The growing use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) is sparking significant public debate in Austin and San Marcos, with many residents and civil rights advocates raising red flags about surveillance, data access, and privacy rights. The controversy centers around Flock Safety cameras, already in use across both cities, which are designed to track stolen vehicles and wanted individuals but also collect vast amounts of data from everyday drivers.
During a recent Austin City Council work session, residents voiced strong opposition to renewing the ALPR program, questioning its effectiveness and implications. The system has reportedly scanned over 75 million license plates, but the success rate in finding suspects is less than 0.02 percent, according to data cited during the session. Residents also raised concerns that Flock, the program’s provider, has an active contract with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), potentially exposing local data to federal agencies despite local policies.
Kevin Welch, an Austin resident, claimed that the city’s contract lacks enforceable legal protections, leading to possible unauthorized data sharing. Reece Armstrong described the entire system as “dystopian,” warning it poses a real threat to community safety rather than offering protection.
In response, Assistant Police Chief Sheldon Askew defended the system, citing its role in tackling not just theft but violent crimes and human smuggling. He assured the council and public that data is stored for only seven days and misuse by officers is subject to criminal penalties. Askew emphasized that safeguards are in place to regulate how data requests are processed and accessed.
Despite APD’s defense, the city manager T.C. Broadnax withdrew the motion to extend the ALPR program (Item 67) from Thursday’s council agenda, responding to the community’s concerns. Unless revisited, this decision means the program will officially end on June 30.
Meanwhile, the San Marcos City Council is pushing ahead with plans to expand their own ALPR program, approving 19 additional Flock cameras to supplement the 14 currently deployed. The vote followed a spirited public debate, with some residents defending the system as a necessary tool for law enforcement, pointing out that similar surveillance is already present on toll roads and state highways.
Others, however, remain skeptical. One opponent questioned how the public could trust assurances from Flock or the police when there is no transparent oversight of how footage and data might be used in the future. As cities across Texas and the nation grapple with the trade-off between public safety and personal privacy, the debate over automated surveillance technologies like ALPRs continues to evolve. Community engagement and policy transparency will likely play a critical role in shaping the future of these programs.
