Flock cameras

Law enforcement agencies from across the country search the DPS Flock database once every four seconds, on average. After the Tribune inquired, DPS said it will limit which agencies can access the network.

All but three Dallas City Council members pushed back on a budget amendment calling for an end to funding Flock cameras in a nonbinding vote.

The Dallas Police Department announced it would cease using more than 300 of its Flock cameras a day before council was to consider an amendment to cancel Flock funding.

The amendment, proposed by Dallas City Council Member Adam Bazaldua, will go in front of the city council on Wednesday during a budget workshop.

The order came as The Texas Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation detailing how a state agency has devoted at least $30 million to building the state’s Flock surveillance network.

Concerns over Flock cameras have sparked public push back in cities across North Texas. But one town has successfully pushed back against Flock in their community.

Hood County has shut down and covered three Flock license plate cameras after officials and residents raised privacy and mass surveillance concerns.

The New York Times' Texas editor writes about the controversy surrounding Flock cameras in his latest piece, "Flock Cameras Can Track Every Car in America. Police Love Them. Citizens Don’t."

Denton police say the license plate readers from Flock are an important crime-fighting tool. But some residents in Denton, similar to residents in cities across Texas recently, say they are mass surveillance and are petitioning for the city to end its contract with Flock Safety.