Florida and Texas have recently announced moves to stop using surveillance cameras from Flock, a company known for its license plate reading technology, amid growing privacy and misuse concerns. Florida’s Department of Transportation mandated the removal of these cameras from state highways within 30 days, referencing reports of data privacy issues and surveillance abuses. Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the technology as being "out of control," reflecting growing unease about the pervasive use of such surveillance tools.

Texas followed suit by ordering state agencies to cease funding Flock’s cameras, with Governor Greg Abbott’s office pointing to misuse, including a case where a police officer was indicted on multiple felony counts for unauthorized database searches. Cities like Dallas, where hundreds of Flock cameras are installed, face the impact of this statewide decision as officials reevaluate their relationship with the surveillance system amid controversies involving data access and law enforcement practices.

The backlash stems from bipartisan concerns over civil liberties and privacy, highlighted by incidents such as cybersecurity breaches, unauthorized stalker-like tracking by police using Flock’s database, and errors from the system leading to wrongful arrests and police stops. Reports have also pointed out that Flock’s technology is expanding beyond just license plate reading to tracking individuals, which has intensified public and governmental scrutiny of the company’s practices.

Flock currently operates approximately 130,000 license plate readers nationwide but faces resistance from multiple communities, including Evanston, Cambridge, and Eugene, which have tried to remove or deactivate these cameras. However, some have reported that Flock reinstalled or reactivated surveillance devices despite official contract terminations. The company has yet to comment on whether it will comply with Florida and Texas’s removal orders or continue operations in those states.