FLIP FLOP FRIDAY: Greg Abbott Can Run from Flock but He Can’t Hide from the Surveillance State He Created
DALLAS, TX – The Texas Tribune reported this week that career politician Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Department of Transportation to stop issuing permits for Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers to be installed along state roads.
While the move does not affect hundreds of cameras already installed on state roads, it comes after Abbott also ordered state agencies last month to stop providing funding for Flock cameras amid strong public pushback. That decision came days after Gina Hinojosa released an ad on the issue.
It’s just the latest example of Greg Abbott flip-flopping on a core issue for voters as he faces his toughest re-election challenge ever after 30 years in public office, with the latest polling showing him losing in November to Hinojosa 49-45%.
“Let’s make one thing clear – Greg Abbott turned Texas into a warrantless surveillance state. He appointed the people and oversaw the agencies responsible for an unprecedented expansion of AI-powered surveillance technology across Texas. Flock cameras are not just going after the bad guys – they’re tracking Texans’ every move without a warrant, and in some cases, they’re being misused to spy on innocent people. Now, Greg Abbott is flip-flopping and trying to play hero because he knows the public’s turned on him and he’s desperately trying to save face. He can try to run from Flock all he wants, but voters in November will make sure he can’t hide,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokesman Jacob Long.
Let’s revisit some key facts.
In May 2026, Greg Abbott praised the use of surveillance technology like license plate readers and Flock cameras and even criticized local governments for not deploying them fast enough.
On August 25, 2026, Gina Hinojosa’s campaign released a new ad highlighting the 10,000 Flock cameras that invaded Texas under Greg Abbott. Days later, Abbott flip-flopped and blocked state agencies from spending money on more Flock cameras.
In 2025, Greg Abbott’s Texas Department of Public Safety signed a $26 million contract with Flock and then sharply increased the number of agencies that could access its data to more than 200.
In 2023, Abbott reappointed Miguel “Mike” Rodriguez to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. Under Rodriguez’s leadership as Chair, MVCPA directed at least $30 million toward Flock, funding at least 3,200 cameras through 95 grants and a three-year $15.9 million contract with DPS for 1,100 more. This money came from the $1 hike in auto insurance fees the Texas legislature passed in 2023 to fight catalytic converter theft. Rodriguez said he wanted to blanket “the entire state” with cameras.
Flock cameras use AI to create a “vehicle fingerprint” of every car, including its plate, make, model, color, and other identifying information like bumper stickers. That information is stored in a national database that police nationwide can access without a warrant.