Princeton Mayor Eugene Escobar Jr. has stated that the city will not utilize six Flock surveillance cameras it recently received. The mayor indicated he wants the city council to reconsider its previous vote approving the devices. This decision makes Princeton the second municipality in Collin County this week to decline the use of the technology.
The cameras were originally approved through a state grant process in 2025. Escobar Jr. noted that he had previously supported the installation, which allows for the reading of license plates and other vehicle details for upload to a law enforcement database. However, he now cites safety concerns regarding data privacy.
He expressed uncertainty about whether individuals in other states, such as Utah or New York, could access data on local residents.
Escobar Jr. argued that solving crimes does not justify mass surveillance of innocent people. He plans to add a debate on the issue to an upcoming city council meeting. The mayor’s comments come as reports indicate that Texas has spent $30 million on building its Flock surveillance network through state grants to local police departments.
In related developments, Wylie City Council voted unanimously to end its contract with Flock. The six cameras in Wylie will cease operation after the current contract expires in October. Hood County also voted to remove three Flock cameras earlier in August. Additionally, Dallas County has reported issues with vandalism and damage to the more than 600 cameras it operates.
