Council ends Flock cameras contract amid privacy concerns

The Liberty Hill City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to terminate its contract with Flock Safety and remove the company’s license plate-reading cameras from Liberty Hill.

The decision came after several weeks of discussion and public input regarding the technology, which is used by the police department to collect information that can assist with criminal investigations.

The city’s contract with Flock Safety—an Atlanta-based company that provides security cameras that record license plates and other identifying characteristics of passing vehicles—was scheduled to automatically renew in October.

The decision took place during a standing-room-only meeting in which residents voiced concerns about privacy, possible misuse of collected data, and government transparency and accountability.

During the meeting, council members acknowledged the cameras’ ability to help law enforcement solve crimes but ultimately determined that the benefits were outweighed by the risks associated with the technology. Several members expressed concerns about the possibility of data being accessed and shared beyond the city and potential misuse of the surveillance technology.

Liberty Hill Mayor Crystal Mancilla and other council members emphasized that the council’s decision should ultimately reflect what Liberty Hill citizens want for their community.

In addition to ending their agreement with Flock Safety, members voted to remove all seven Flock cameras currently installed across the city while ensuring the city does not use any other technology for mass surveillance in the community.

Residents applauded following the unanimous decision.