Lubbock County Knows Everywhere You've Been and Has Pictures to Prove It

LUBBOCK, TX — Authorities in Lubbock County are watching you where ever you go. This represents a growing concern of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) technology and has sparked some worry among local officials when Lubbock County approved the installation of "Flock" cameras across various roadways in the city, back in December 2023. 

Flock, one of the largest vendors of ALPR cameras, markets its technology to law enforcement agencies, homeowners associations, and businesses, praising its effectiveness in crime-solving. However, discussions reveal concerns over privacy, data access, and the implications of third-party surveillance.

During a Commissioners Court meeting on December 11, 2023, Phillip Partin, Administrator of the Texas Anti-Gang Center in Lubbock, presented information on Flock’s surveillance capabilities. 

The technology not only captures images of vehicles but retains data—including license plate numbers and vehicle colors—for up to 30 days. Every vehicle passing these cameras will be photographed, raising alarms about the potential for mass surveillance of the Lubbock community.

Commissioner Jason Corley of Precinct 2 noted an uneasiness about granting Flock access to data, noting that the company could collect information on all vehicles, regardless of their involvement in criminal activities.

“We are bordering very close to invasion of privacy in Lubbock County,” he stated in the meeting. 

Concerns were also expressed about the lack of regulation governing Flock’s operations. Corley pointed out that laws must adapt to keep pace with advanced technologies like these cameras. He highlighted the potential for misuse of surveillance tools, comparing it to government overreach and the risk of targeting political opponents.

“There’s a risk when introducing a third-party contractor with such power,” Conley cautioned, referencing the broader implications of private surveillance operations, which have faced criticism in domestic and international contexts.

According to a report, Flock’s aggressive marketing tactics, which include publishing studies to cushion its credibility, have drawn scrutiny from various stakeholders as Flock claims to be “instrumental in solving 10% of reported crime in the U.S.”

The motion carried 4 to 1 on December 11, 2023, allowing the installation of Flock cameras along multiple highways and roads in Lubbock County such as Iola Avenue, Slide Road, Quaker Avenue, Indiana Avenue, University Avenue, Avenue Q,  West Loop 289, and U.S. 62/82. Flock cameras are already used in nearby cities such as Amarillo, Midland, and Snyder.

Someone with access to Flock's cloud-basaed control panel can enter a vehicle's license plate and Flock will display a map of everywhere that vehicle has been within Lubbock County (or elsewhere Flock as cameras) for the past 30 days. Right now, the Lubbock County Commissioners' Court was assured, only someone at a law enforcement agency has the log-in username and password.