Cities and counties across Central Texas have considered new and existing contracts with Flock Safety, a security technology company. Flock makes automated license plate readers, video cameras and drones used by police, businesses, schools and communities.
Gov. Greg Abbott froze the use of state funding for Flock cameras on Aug. 28, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Andrew Mahaleris. Mahaleris said cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock. Residents have raised concerns about mass surveillance, data sharing with outside agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and misuse by police. Mahaleris said a Lufkin police officer was indicted on 100 felony charges for misusing Flock information.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley said in 2025 that the company does not sell data, that customers decide what is shared with other agencies, and that it has no contracts with ICE. Austin voted in 2023 to restart a limited license plate reader program that includes Flock cameras. An audit later found the program scanned tens of millions of plates. Other cities have suspended use of the technology or kept their partnerships with the company.