In a move that stirs both controversy and concern, the Texas city of North Richland Hills has demanded an eye-watering $2.3 million from a group requesting public records on the Flock AI camera system. The fee, based on a laborious estimation of 14 years of work at $15 an hour, aims to shield the city from revealing potentially damning details about the system's use.

Phil Mynona, who filed the request on behalf of the Texas Privacy Coalition, found the fee ‘ludicrous’ and indicative of a tactic to suppress public scrutiny. His efforts to gather similar records from over 200 law enforcement agencies across the US have seen varied responses, with some providing data free of charge while others charge exorbitant fees.

The high price tags are not just about money. They could be a form of censorship, hiding data that could expose misuse, such as police stalking or other forms of invasive surveillance. Recently, an ex-cop, Zachary Anthony Klein, was charged with misuse of information after USA Today’s public records request exposed his illegal use of Flock cameras. Following this case, Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted Flock funding and stopped issuing permits.

As the debate over AI surveillance intensifies, these high fees could deter journalists, activists, and the public from demanding transparency. But with potential audits, arrests, and changes in law enforcement practices, it’s clear that the public’s right to know is at stake.