The states of Florida and Texas are taking action against Flock, a surveillance company facing intense privacy concerns. In a memo, Florida’s Department of Transportation announced the removal of Flock cameras, citing reports of misuse and data privacy issues. This decision follows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ criticism of license plate reading technology, describing it as 'out of control.'

Following Florida's lead, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras. Local media suggests that Dallas could be broadly affected, with hundreds of Flock cameras in operation. Abbott’s office cited abuse of the surveillance system, including a recent police officer in Lufkin, Texas, facing 100 felony counts for allegedly accessing Flock’s database without authorization.

The move comes amid rising bipartisan concerns over privacy and civil liberties, exacerbated by reports of cybersecurity issues, police misconduct, and inaccuracies leading to wrongful arrests. Flock currently operates around 130,000 license plate readers in the United States, sparking opposition from communities who do not want the company in their neighborhoods. Several towns have reported Flock reinstalling or reactivating their cameras despite local officials terminating contracts with the company.

When contacted by TechCrunch, a Flock spokesperson did not provide a response regarding the company's plans for Florida and Texas.