Texas has hit pause on a roadside surveillance tech that’s drawing opposition around the country. Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the state’s transportation department to stop issuing permits for new Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers along state highways, a spokesperson confirmed. Existing devices—including more than 900 used by the Department of Public Safety—can keep running, the Texas Tribune reports, but already-approved projects that aren’t yet installed are also frozen.
Abbott had decided in late August to halt state funding for Flock cameras after scrutiny over at least $30 million steered toward more than 3,200 devices statewide. Privacy worries have mounted as the cameras log every passing plate into searchable databases, with some officers accused of using them to stalk people. Supporters say the systems help solve crimes, recover stolen cars, and find missing persons. The Houston Chronicle has a map of the local governments that are ending their Flock contracts here.