Residents of the upscale Shadow Lakes community in Brentwood, California, are expressing outrage over the installation of Flock cameras by their homeowners association, which they view as a significant privacy breach. The controversy intensified after city officials admitted the permits for the cameras were mistakenly approved.
The homeowners association (HOA) in the nearly 800-home development installed four Flock cameras at the entrances and exits of the community. These devices are automated license plate readers designed to capture details such as a vehicle's plate, make, model, and color. Flock Safety states that its cameras do not utilize facial recognition technology.
Brentwood city officials acknowledged that an encroachment permit was issued under the misunderstanding that the cameras were part of the city's existing police surveillance network. The city has since initiated the process of revoking the permit for cameras located in the public right-of-way. According to acting City Manager Terrance Davis, once the permit is revoked, Flock Safety will be required to remove the cameras and restore the affected areas.
Residents, some of whom were unaware of the privately operated system's presence, have voiced strong objections. Michele Spring-Fajeau described the setup as "pretty invasive" and stated she felt uncomfortable and that it was "a little creepy."
Nathan Fruth, whose home is situated on a public street outside the HOA's direct purview, called the situation a "massive breach of privacy." He argued that public streets should not be subject to surveillance decisions made by private organizations without public oversight. "If the city wants cameras on public streets, that’s a decision that should be made by the city with public oversight," Fruth told the Mercury News.
The Shadow Lakes HOA, however, asserts that residents were informed about the camera system prior to its installation. The association stated that communications regarding the project were distributed through multiple channels and that the matter was discussed at open forum meetings between November 2025 and June 2026. The HOA also noted that only management personnel have access to the Flock system and that captured data is retained for 30 days.
According to the HOA, the cameras were installed in response to ongoing concerns about crime and property theft within Shadow Lakes. The association reported spending approximately $300,000 annually on roving security patrols before implementing the camera technology.
The incident has prompted broader discussions regarding the proliferation of privately controlled surveillance on public streets. The city of Brentwood already operates 62 Flock license plate readers managed by its Police Department, which are reportedly used in accordance with law enforcement regulations. City officials are planning to address potential regulations for privately owned Flock cameras at a future City Council meeting.