Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa is targeting Gov. Greg Abbott over his administration’s $26 million contract with Flock Safety, as the company’s network of license plate reader cameras continues to expand across the state.
Hinojosa highlights the growing presence of Flock cameras in a new 15-second digital ad, pointing to more than 10,000 cameras now operating across Texas. The ad is running in university towns including College Station, San Marcos, Lubbock, Denton, Waco, Fort Worth and Austin.
“Welcome to Texas, y’all, where we celebrate freedom from big government,” the ad says. “So, relax. There’s only 10,000 Flock cameras reading your plate, logging where you sleep and pray, no warrant needed in Greg Abbott’s Texas.”
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Flock Safety cameras are now used by law enforcement agencies in dozens of Texas cities and counties. State grants have also helped fund their expansion, covering as much as 75% to 80% of the cost in some cases.
The growing surveillance network has raised concerns among privacy advocates, who argue that automated license plate readers can give law enforcement access to detailed information about people’s movements.
Abbott has largely stayed out of the public debate surrounding Flock’s rapid expansion. His administration, however, has continued to allow the Texas Department of Public Safety to use automated license plate reader technology, with state troopers routinely cross-referencing vehicle data through the system.
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The Texas Privacy Coalition has reported more than 10,000 active Flock cameras in the state, underscoring the scale of the network.
Critics have also pointed to another surveillance-related move under Abbott’s administration. The state authorized a separate $4.5 million emergency purchase of FalcoNet cellular-tracking technology, adding to concerns about the expanding use of surveillance tools in Texas.
Hinojosa’s ad seeks to turn that expansion into a political liability for Abbott by putting privacy and government surveillance at the center of the governor’s record.