Florida and Texas move to block Flock cameras over privacy concerns

Florida and Texas are taking steps to terminate their association with Flock, a surveillance company grappling with privacy concerns and misappropriation of its tracking technology. Florida’s Department of Transportation announced on Monday its intention to discontinue the use of license plate readers, including Flock’s cameras, statewide, citing "serious reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance practices."

The state has a 30-day window to remove the cameras. The decision follows Governor Ron DeSantis's recent characterization of the technology as "out of control" in a press conference. Texas has joined Florida in this action, ordering state agencies to cease funding Flock cameras. Governor Greg Abbott's office cited the abuse of the surveillance system, including a recent indictment of a Lufkin, Texas police officer with 100 felony counts for allegedly searching Flock’s database to track individuals without authorization.

Abbott's office did not specify which agencies would be impacted, but reports suggest Dallas could be significantly affected, as there are reportedly hundreds of Flock cameras operating within the city. The move aligns with growing bipartisan apprehensions over privacy and civil liberties, stemming from reports of cybersecurity issues, police using their access to Flock’s database to stalk ex-partners, and accuracy problems that have led to wrongful arrests and police stops.

Recent reporting indicates that Flock cameras are transitioning from license plate scanning to identifying and tracking individuals. Flock currently operates approximately 130,000 license plate readers across the United States. The company has faced backlash from communities whose residents oppose the presence of Flock cameras in their neighborhoods.

Notably, towns such as Evanston, Ill., Cambridge, Mass., and Eugene, Ore., have reinstated or reactivated their cameras despite terminating their contracts with Flock. TechCrunch reached out to Flock to inquire if the company plans to permit Florida and Texas to remove their cameras or if Flock intends to reinstall or reactivate them. A spokesperson from Flock did not respond to the inquiry.