Steve, this doesn't just go on in Texas. It goes on all over the country. Everywhere that county clerks have recklessly embraced technology without any clear understanding of what was actually in the documents or how it could be used to exploit their citizens.

It is understandable the clerks did not understand what was actually in the documents. It isn't there job to examine each document beyond acceptibility for filing.

I have found county clerks/recorders across the country who have unknowingly published their own sensitive information and that of family members and co-workers.

They really didn't have to realize what was in the documents, they only need to realize the documents belong to the people within their jurisdiction. Those people DO NOT want to have their records exploited by anyone, anywhere in the world with an internet connection. The primary function of government, any government is to protect the citizens within their jurisdiction.