Safety or Surveillance? 400 AI Cameras at Texas Megachurch Spark Serious Privacy Questions
Artificial intelligence is constantly growing and ever-expanding in society. This rise in AI has led many to ask a whole host of questions, particularly about privacy. When we think about privacy at Church, does AI come to mind? For Rockwall, Texas, Megachurch Lakepointe pastor Josh Howerton, the use of over 400 AI-tracking cameras on campus has caused immediate backlash.
If you knew your pastor (and church staff) could monitor your every move, would you still attend? What would you do? According to Baptist News Global, such use of artificial intelligence could be described as “a sacralized dystopia.” Howerton, however, had a much different take and view on the issue. He responded that these surveillance security measures haven’t been created to form a new society or cause strife, but to make Lakepoint Church “the safest place in Texas when we gather for worship” (Protestia).
As senior pastor, Howerton oversees 30,000 members across multiple campuses. When learning about the use of AI technology on campus, Nathan Apffel of The Religion Business pushed back, publicly calling Howerton out on social media.
“What we’ve uncovered inside Josh’s megachurch runs antithetical to everything he and the Blaze preach. Lakepointe leverages a cutting-edge AI-powered security and surveillance system called Coram. The website states their technology can identify bad actors. You can search, flag and track license plates. You can enforce compliance and search video feeds instantly. Coram’s facial recognition can quote, in real time, identify persons of interest and track them.”
When former attendees of Lakepointe were interviewed regarding the recent AI disputes, Mary Kuti, who left the church last year, added that the AI cameras were "everywhere" and often hidden or obscured. She further alleged that some were placed in locations that invaded the privacy of staff and churchgoers (Chron).
"Women have changed clothes in those rooms without knowing cameras were present," Kuti added. "That alone deserves serious questions about transparency, privacy, oversight, and who has access to that footage."
Photo Credit: ©Shireen Broszies/picture alliance via Getty Images
Originally published September 21, 2026.
