Texas suspends approvals for new Flock cameras

Flock cameras are automated license plate readers. The company markets them as a way to help law enforcement, but many have criticized them over fears of unlawful surveillance.

By Ben Whedon

Published: September 18, 2026 4:18pm

The Texas Department of Transportation on Friday announced that it had suspended approvals for new Flock cameras, marking the latest major state actor to pause their buildout amid widespread backlash.

Flock cameras are automated license plate readers. The company markets them as a way to help law enforcement, but many have criticized them over fears of unlawful surveillance. The Texas agency issued its statement ahead of the midterms, which come as both Flock cameras and data centers become the top-of-mind issues for many voters.

“Under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, TxDOT has suspended issuing approvals for Flock cameras or similar devices installed by third parties in our ROW [public roadways],” a TxDOT spokesperson told NewsNation.

Other Republican states have also paused Flock expansion, while states run by both parties have increasingly implemented moratoria on data centers, which have generated comparable backlash.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.