Florida says it is revoking permits for Flock cameras and similar license-plate readers on state roads and no longer intends to issue such permits (Ryan Gillespie/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida is revoking permits for Flock cameras and similar license-plate readers on state roads. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the state no longer intends to issue such permits. This move deals a blow to local law enforcement agencies that use the cameras.

The decision comes amid growing criticism of Flock Safety's AI-powered camera network across the US. According to Secure Justice, an Oakland-based anti-surveillance group, 214 cities and counties have dropped Flock since 2021, with 90 jurisdictions ending contracts in August alone. Concerns include the cost of cameras, data sharing among agencies, and reports of police officers misusing the system.

In Texas, a $1 annual fee added to auto insurance policies raised an estimated $81 million, with at least $30 million going toward Flock deployments. The Texas Tribune found that several lawmakers who approved the fee did not expect it to finance a statewide license plate surveillance network. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen state spending on Flock cameras, according to The Verge.

Brief written by urgent.news from Techmeme, Digital Trends, TechSpot, The Verge — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.