Bedford to end Flock license-plate reader contracts after resident raises privacy concerns

A Bedford resident who helped organize a regional group warned the City Council Monday that automated license-plate readers operated by the company Flock can be misused and pose civil-liberties risks.

"These tools are being used in ways that are really, really dangerous to regular Texans that they may not realize," resident Elizabeth Miller said during the public-comment period. Miller said she had attended a local organizing meeting and that state lawmakers and the ACLU have raised concerns about the technology.

The mayor responded that Bedford is moving away from the company. "We are canceling our contract with them," he said, adding that the city holds two contracts—"one will be done in 2026, and the other will be finished in 2029, and we do not seem to renew those." He said the city has internal audits and safeguards to monitor officer access and use of the system.

Council members and staff said they were open to further dialogue with residents about how data are used and about oversight of any surveillance technology. The mayor offered to meet with residents who want more detail and suggested staff would provide additional education at a later time.

No formal ordinance or new policy was adopted at the meeting; the mayor’s statement described the administration’s contract-renewal intentions and existing auditing practices. Councilmembers asked staff to continue the conversation as part of future public outreach and policy review.