The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has suspended the issuance of permits for installing Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers along state roadways. The decision was made at the direction of Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
An agency spokesperson confirmed the freeze on Thursday. Officials clarified that the pause does not impact the approximately 900 cameras already in place within state rights-of-way. Among these existing units is a significant number operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Honest question: is this about civil liberties or just budget concerns with the new permits?
Does this actually affect how police use data from those existing units right now?
Wait, so the 900 existing cameras stay running? Is this just a temporary pause?
About time! This surveillance state is getting out of control and privacy matters.