Flock cameras go dark in two Houston suburbs
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Two Houston-area cities are pulling back from Flock license plate readers, widening a Texas backlash against the surveillance technology even as the city of Houston and Harris County continue using them.
Why it matters: Flock cameras are suddenly a big target of populist anti-tech, pro-privacy sentiment, alongside the data centers fueling the AI boom.
Driving the news: The Manvel City Council voted unanimously last week to end its Flock contract, and the Willis mayor temporarily shut down its Flock system pending a City Council decision on whether to bring it back.
- Meanwhile, the Conroe City Council voted Thursday to continue funding Flock cameras over some residents' concerns, per ABC13.
By the numbers: More than 4,000 automated license plate readers have been logged in Harris County on a national tracking map — the most of any U.S. county — according to Axios' review of public data.
- Separately, a community-maintained map has logged more than 1,400 readers within 10 miles of downtown Houston, most identified as Flock cameras, though the site cautions that its count may be incomplete or outdated.
- About 140,000 readers are installed nationwide.
How it works: Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras are placed on streets and highways and use AI to capture and store information like car license plates, car make and other features.
What they're saying: Police say the systems help find suspects, missing people and stolen vehicles. Critics say the vast, searchable networks track people's movements with too little oversight.
- "It's nearly impossible to drive any distance in Texas without the government being able to track your movements," Nick Hudson, senior manager of policy and advocacy at ACLU Texas, tells Axios.
Zoom in: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo — who abstained from voting on renewing an $869,000 county contract with Flock in May even as commissioners approved the contract 4-0 — is calling for a special Commissioners Court meeting on Flock cameras in October.
- She tells Axios she is "an outspoken critic of the lack of oversight and the lack of discussion" but could support keeping the cameras if adequate safeguards are added.
- The Houston City Council approved a grant application last month that included money for additional Flock cameras, over two members' objections.