Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies on Thursday night to pause all funding for Flock Safety cameras, the automated license plate readers that have expanded rapidly across the state.

Abbott's office confirmed the directive on Friday as the Texas Tribune prepared to publish an investigation detailing how a state agency had directed at least $30 million toward the devices since 2023. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority used revenue from a $1 increase in auto insurance fees, enacted to combat catalytic converter theft, to award grants supporting roughly 3,200 cameras.

A spokesman for the governor stated that most Flock cameras in Texas are operated by cities and that any state funds previously available for the technology can no longer be used for that purpose. Abbott noted in a radio interview that cities and counties have begun canceling contracts amid public pressure.

The move follows multiple incidents of alleged misuse by law enforcement officers in Texas, including the indictment of a Lufkin police officer on 100 felony counts for using Flock data to surveil individuals. At least six other departments have placed officers on leave or launched investigations over similar concerns.

Critics across the political spectrum have raised alarms about the technology's impact on privacy and Fourth Amendment protections. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa has run ads criticizing the expansion, while Republican state Rep. Keith Self has publicly opposed the surveillance capabilities.

Flock cameras, which capture vehicle movements and store data for extended periods, now number in the thousands in Texas alone. The decision by Abbott halts further state support even as federal funding and local contracts continue in some areas.