Texas Governor Abbott blocks funding for more Flock cameras

# Texas Governor Abbott blocks funding for more Flock cameras Source: [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/986541/texas-governor-abbott-flock-cameras](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/986541/texas-governor-abbott-flock-cameras) [Skip to main content](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/986541/texas-governor-abbott-flock-cameras#content) As bipartisan backlash mounts, more politicians are turning against AI surveillance\. As bipartisan backlash mounts, more politicians are turning against AI surveillance\. by Aug 30, 2026, 3:35 PM UTC   Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images [](https://www.theverge.com/authors/terrence-obrien) Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor\. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths\. As backlash grows over Flock’s AI surveillance cameras, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has[frozen state spending](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/28/texas-greg-abbott-flock-cameras-order-state-money/)on them\. The move came just ahead of the publication of a[*Texas Tribune*investigation](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/28/texas-flock-cameras-auto-insurance-fee-mvcpa-grants/)that revealed the state spent over $30 million on Flock cameras\. That money was primarily raised by tacking a $1 fee onto insurance policies, allegedly to help fight catalytic converter theft\. Flock cameras have increasingly drawn ire from[across the political spectrum](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/29/flock-cameras-stir-bipartisan-fury-gov-greg-abbott-blocks-them-texas/)as they’ve become the subject of privacy concerns\. There have been multiple incidents of officers being placed on leave or[criminally charged](https://www.404media.co/cops-keep-getting-arrested-for-using-flock-to-stalk-people/)for misusing Flock systems, including at least six in Texas alone\. The company has also come under scrutiny for its[data\-sharing](https://www.wired.com/story/how-an-atlanta-suburb-ended-up-sharing-flock-data-with-more-than-2000-organizations/), the placement of some of its cameras[near](https://www.wsj.com/tech/flock-cameras-are-spreading-across-america-the-backlash-is-growing-just-as-fast-fff74ed2)[playgrounds](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pflugerville/comments/1r17ys9/flock_camera_watching_playground_we_need_to/), its own[employees’ access](https://www.wral.com/news/investigates/audits-raise-questions-about-access-to-raleigh-flock-cameras-august-2026/)to video feeds,[unsecured video feeds](https://www.theverge.com/news/849624/flock-ai-camera-feeds-exposed-benn-jordan), and its ham\-fisted attempts to[avoid transparency](https://youtu.be/GQoQkeMdvQM)\. In recent months, cities around the country have been canceling their contracts with Flock, including many in Texas\. Abbott’s Democratic opponent in the race for governor, Gina Hinojosa, has[criticized him](https://youtu.be/81IMtQ5hnYA)for expanding use of the cameras in the state\. And Republican representative Keith Self recently[posted on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYffZ6Sy96/)that, “From Flock cameras to kill switches, we will NOT surrender our Fourth Amendment rights to the growing surveillance state\.” Cheering on the[destruction of Flock cameras](https://www.theverge.com/tech/985155/flock-camera-destruction-vigilantes)has even become a unifying pastime on the internet\. Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Terrence O'Brien ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.