Texas Governor Abbott blocks funding for more Flock cameras - The Verge

The move came just before the Texas Tribune published an investigation revealing Texas spent more than $30 million on Flock cameras. That money was largely collected by adding a $1 fee to insurance policies, with the stated purpose of fighting catalytic converter theft. The timing suggests Abbott acted with knowledge of the investigation's findings before they went public.

Flock cameras have spread across Texas cities, including here in Lubbock, where law enforcement has used them to scan plates and track vehicle movement. The backlash has grown from both the left and the right, with critics raising concerns about how the footage is stored, who can access it, and whether the surveillance infrastructure has grown far beyond its original purpose.

For people here, the freeze raises a real question about cameras already installed and running. Abbott's order stops new spending, but the existing network stays in place. Whether local agencies can expand their own Flock systems using city or county funds, separate from state money, is not yet clear.

Texas quietly built that surveillance network one dollar at a time, tucked inside your insurance bill.