The town council in Bandera, Texas has voted to cancel its contract with Flock Safety for AI-powered license plate readers. The decision follows months of public debate and community outcry regarding the surveillance technology. Councilor Jeff Flowers proposed a total ban on cellular and GPS devices within the town as a protest against the cancellation.
Bandera council votes to end deal after community backlash over automated vehicle tracking technology
Flowers argued that critics who compare the desire for neighborhood safety to historical totalitarianism are using a distraction tactic. He stated that such comparisons ignore the actual threats facing the community today. The councilor also challenged privacy advocates to apply their principles consistently by banning all cellular and GPS devices if they believe public surveillance is unconstitutional.
At least 53 other jurisdictions across 20 states have rejected the Flock Safety system in the past six months. This wave of rejections highlights a growing national resistance to AI license plate recognition technology. The Bandera council action adds to this broader trend of local governments distancing themselves from automated vehicle tracking systems.
Flock Safety has not publicly commented on the specific circumstances surrounding the Bandera contract termination. The company continues to deploy its network across various municipalities despite the increasing number of cancellations and rejections.
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