With thousands of AI-powered cameras monitoring North Texas streets , advocates, residents and officials are pushing back against what some call a "surveillance state.".

As police use of drones , cameras and AI-powered license plate readers has accelerated across the country, activism against technology designed for continuous monitoring in public areas has followed in step.

Critics are uneasy with what they perceive as invasive surveillance, insecure data and potential abuse of the technology by law enforcement, especially given the ongoing ramp-up of immigration enforcement in the U.S. In December, the San Marcos City Council voted against renewing a contract with Flock Safety, the leading provider of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in the U.S. Plans called for expanding Flock's San Marcos presence from 19 to 33 ALPRs, but were thwarted by the council after significant community pushback and criticism from civil rights groups.