Angry tiny Texas town council member proposes total ban on cellular and GPS devices in protest over AI dispute — says 'Let’s take Bandera back to 1880' after town votes to dump AI-powered license plate reader
A town council member in Bandera, Texas, has proposed a total ban on cellular and GPS devices in response to the community's rejection of an AI-powered license plate reader system. The council voted to terminate the contract with Flock AI after residents expressed concerns about privacy and government surveillance. The proposal reflects a broader debate on technology and trust within the community, as similar rejections of surveillance systems have occurred in other jurisdictions across the country.
- ▪Bandera, Texas, has a population of around 900 residents and recently voted to cancel its contract with Flock AI.
- ▪Councilor Jeff Flowers suggested reverting to a pre-digital age if residents desire complete privacy from surveillance.
- ▪The decision to end the AI-powered license plate reader program was influenced by community protests and concerns over privacy.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/angry-tiny-texas-town-council-member-proposes-total-ban-on-cellular-and-gps-devices-in-protest-over-ai-dispute-says-lets-take-bandera-back-to-1880-after-town-votes-to-dump-ai-powered-license-plate-reader |
| Publication time | Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-21T10:06:10.479Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-21T10:06:10.479Z |
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Tech Industry Big Tech Angry tiny Texas town council member proposes total ban on cellular and GPS devices in protest over AI dispute — says 'Let’s take Bandera back to 1880' after town votes to dump AI-powered license plate reader News By Jowi Morales published 21 May 2026 Throwing tantrums. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Getty Images) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Bandera, Texas, a small town of around 900 residents located about 40 miles northeast of San Antonio, Texas, opted to cancel its Flock AI contract.
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