Florida’s Department of Transportation issued a 30-day mandate to clear its roadways of the tracking hardware, a move spurred by Governor Ron DeSantis labeling the surveillance network “out of control.” This action mirrors a directive from the Texas governor’s office, triggered by the indictment of a Lufkin police officer accused of 100 felony counts for allegedly using the database to stalk individuals without legal justification.
In section Startups & Technology
Florida and Texas sever ties with surveillance provider Flock
State officials in Florida and Texas are dismantling their reliance on Flock Safety, ordering the removal of thousands of automated license plate readers from public highways. The abrupt policy reversal follows mounting evidence of system misuse, unauthorized data access by law enforcement, and growing bipartisan alarm over civil liberties.
The pushback highlights systemic vulnerabilities within the technology, which has moved beyond simple license plate cataloging toward broader facial and movement tracking. Beyond the legal scandals, the company faces scrutiny for its persistence in local markets; officials in cities like Evanston, Illinois, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, have reported instances where the company allegedly reactivated or reinstalled cameras despite active contract terminations. With approximately 130,000 readers currently active nationwide, these state-level bans represent the most significant regulatory challenge to the company’s expansion to date. A company spokesperson declined to comment on whether they intend to challenge the state-ordered removals.
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