Texas Lawmakers Push for Flock Camera Accountability– www.dailysignal.com

Texas often sets the standard for red-state policies—from the Second Amendment, to protecting unborn babies, to economic freedom. Now, amid public backlash to Flock cameras, state legislators are leading calls for accountability.

Texas is estimated to have at least 13,000 Flock cameras, along with roughly 1,000 other similar devices, according to DeFlock, an anti-surveillance group that tracks the devices and publishes their locations.

Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that take pictures of vehicles, tracking their time and location. This is an incredibly useful tool for police to investigate vehicles connected to crimes; but public concern has been growing about widespread surveillance and privacy violations.

In August, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banned state funds from being used for Flock cameras. And now, state legislators including state Rep. Brian Harrison are now demanding accountability.

“We take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States when we’re sworn in,” Harrison told the Daily Signal. “I don’t know how it’s the case that so many supposedly Republicans in the Texas government seem to think that the Fourth Amendment was just a mere suggestion.”