Plano has disabled more than 90 Flock cameras after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop funding artificial intelligence-powered license plate readers, city officials said.
The city does not plan to seek alternative funding for the technology for the time being, officials said. Plano’s contract with Flock Safety ended after the governor’s order. The program had been funded through a roughly $300,000 annual grant from the Texas Anti-Gang Program.
Plano had used the cameras for about three years. Police Chief Ed Drain has called the technology a “game-changer” for the city’s public safety efforts.
Flock cameras use automated license plate recognition technology to capture vehicle information, which can be used by law enforcement to investigate crimes. The technology has also drawn growing scrutiny from privacy advocates and others concerned about surveillance and the potential misuse of data.
The shutdown leaves Plano without the Flock camera network it had relied on as part of its policing efforts. City officials said they will not pursue replacement funding for the system at this time.
Abbott’s order comes as debate over the use of AI-powered license plate readers has intensified, with supporters citing their value to law enforcement and critics raising questions about privacy, data retention and government surveillance.
