Texas Governor Abbott Freezes State Spending on Flock AI Surveillance Cameras
Source Summary
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen state funding for Flock AI surveillance cameras amid growing backlash over privacy concerns. The state had spent over $30 million on the cameras, with funds primarily raised through a $1 fee added to insurance policies ostensibly to combat catalytic converter theft. Multiple law enforcement officers have been placed on leave or criminally charged for misusing the Flock systems.
Why it matters
The freeze signals a significant shift in state policy toward AI surveillance technology amid documented privacy violations and officer misconduct.
