Abbott on Thursday night gave the order to halt all state funding for the AI-surveillance cameras, a spokesperson for his office told the outlet.
“To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government. To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras,” said Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, in a statement to the Tribune.
The order comes amid intense scrutiny in Houston and statewide as residents and elected officials grapple with the ramifications of government surveillance. At least five Flock cameras have been vandalized in Houston this summer, with one recently cut down last week in the Heights.
A significant part of funding for Flock cameras comes from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a board within TxDOT that provides funding to state and local agencies aimed at curtailing vehicle theft. According to the Tribune, at least $30 million in state funding for Flock cameras has come from a $1 increase in the fee Texans pay as part of their car insurance. That was implemented as part of a 2023 state law to raise money to fight catalytic converter theft.
News of law enforcement officials misusing the camera’s for stalking has ramped up concerns over the potential for agencies to abuse the technology. A former Katy police officer, Sergio Rodriguez, was charged this week with two felony counts of stalking and misuse of official information after officials say he used Flock cameras to stalk his ex-wife for five months.
Local law enforcement has argued the AI cameras are vital to solving crimes and have decried vandalism of the cameras. Houston Police Noe Diaz said this month the vandalism of a Flock camera prevented Houston police from identifying a suspect in an attempted child abduction.