Hood County, TX — Hood County Precinct 2 Constable John D. Shirley says he has shut down and covered Flock automated license plate reader cameras in the county, taking a public stand against the technology over privacy concerns.
In a social media post, Shirley said the cameras had been “completely unplugged and covered,” arguing that residents should not have their everyday vehicle movements routinely recorded and stored.
“Privacy isn’t optional, and mass surveillance isn’t how we do things here,” Shirley wrote.
Flock cameras use automated license plate recognition technology to capture license plates and other vehicle information. Law enforcement agencies across Texas have used the systems as an investigative tool, while their use has also drawn opposition from residents and privacy advocates in several communities.
Shirley’s stance attracted significant attention online, with his post receiving tens of thousands of reactions.
The debate extends beyond Hood County. Some Texas residents have raised concerns about how license plate data is collected, stored and searched, while law enforcement officials have defended the technology as a valuable tool for identifying vehicles connected to crimes and locating suspects.
Shirley made his position clear, telling the company behind the cameras to remove the equipment from the county.
