Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen state spending on Flock AI surveillance cameras. The decision came days before a Texas Tribune investigation revealed the state had spent more than $30 million on the system. Flock cameras are automated license‑plate readers that record vehicle data and transmit it to a cloud platform. The program was funded by a $1 surcharge on vehicle insurance policies intended to combat catalytic converter theft. Critics say the cameras raise privacy concerns and have been misused by law enforcement. At least six Texas officers have been placed on leave or faced criminal charges for alleged misuse of Flock footage. The company has been criticized for sharing data with third parties, locating cameras near playgrounds, and allowing its employees access to video feeds without clear oversight. Municipalities across the United States, including several Texas cities, have ended contracts with Flock. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa said Abbott’s expansion of the program raises civil liberties concerns. Republican Representative Keith Self posted on Instagram that the cameras pose a risk to Fourth Amendment rights. The spending pause will be in effect while the state reviews the program’s costs and privacy implications, and it remains unclear whether the funding will resume.