Texas Governor Abbott freezes state funding for Flock AI surveillance cameras

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has halted state spending on Flock AI-powered surveillance cameras amid growing public backlash. The decision came just before a Texas Tribune investigation revealed the state had spent over $30 million on the cameras. That funding was largely collected through a $1 fee added to insurance policies, ostensibly to combat catalytic converter theft. Flock cameras have attracted criticism from across the political spectrum due to serious privacy concerns. Multiple law enforcement officers have faced disciplinary action or criminal charges for misusing the Flock surveillance systems.