Kyle McClenagan/HPM
A vandalized Flock camera at the intersection of Taylor St. and the Katy Freeway in northwest Houston on Sept. 19, 2026.
Commissioner Lesley Briones said on Thursday that dozens of Flock cameras in her precinct, covering a large swath of western Harris County, will be decommissioned after residents raised security concerns.
Hundreds of automated license plate readers and security cameras controlled by Flock Safety cover the county and capture real-time images of vehicles that pass by. The mass surveillance technology has prompted dozens of residents to speak out against the county’s contract renewal with the company this year.
More than 60 Flock cameras covering parks and facilities in the precinct will be decommissioned and covered, according to a Thursday press release. In a statement, Briones said the decision was made after residents in her precinct raised questions about outside agency access and the news of improper searches by authorized users.
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“I cannot wait to act,” Briones said. “These Precinct 4 cameras are offline. These cameras can be useful tools, but private ownership of the data and the use of AI present serious issues.”
RELATED: Some Houston-area residents have growing concerns with the expansion of Flock cameras
During a commissioners court meeting on Sept. 17, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo questioned the county’s contract with the company, which has been renewed three times since 2023. Under the contract, several county departments — including precinct offices, constable offices and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office — have access to information collected through the system.
Hidalgo has since directed the county administration office to present a report about automated license plate reader technology and its use in the county. Commissioners have the option to terminate or amend the county’s contract.
In a statement to Houston Public Media Thursday, County Attorney Abbie Kamin said commissioners and departments have discretion on the usage of their devices under the county contract. A vote is not required to change how the devices are operated within the scope of the contract, Kamin said.
In August, three Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies were suspended from accessing the license plate reader technology for allegedly misusing the Flock system. The sheriff’s office manages 20 Flock camera networks owned by various entities like municipal utility districts and neighborhood associations, according to a press release about the suspensions.
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“The license plate readers have thwarted kidnapping attempts, led to the quick apprehension of armed robbery crews, and helped recover countless stolen vehicles, but as with any powerful new public safety tool, this technology is subject to abuse,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a previous statement.
Commissioners will have a discussion about Flock cameras during a court meeting on Oct. 15, Hidalgo said earlier this month.