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City staff lays out draft ‘Digital Dignity’ ordinance, proposes advisory board and annual audits
Summary
City information‑technology staff described a draft Digital Dignity Rights and Privacy Ordinance that sets 10 guiding principles, requires annual accountability reporting, vendor transparency, and bias assessments for AI; the item was sent to legal for review with plans for a first reading in late March.
Amarillo — City staff on Feb. 25 presented a draft ordinance aimed at protecting residents’ digital rights and privacy while allowing the city to use modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence, for government services.
The presentation explained the ordinance’s structure — a stable foundation of principles plus a flexible implementation layer — and proposed an annual public accountability report and a citizen‑expert advisory board to guide policy changes as technology evolves.
Why the ordinance was proposed
Rich Gagnon, who led the presentation, said the ordinance intends to preserve residents’ rights in the digital space while enabling responsible innovation. "A citizen's rights and freedoms exist in the digital space as they do in the physical space," Gagnon said during the meeting. The draft lays out 10 core principles — including data minimalism, resident‑driven decision making, transparency and accessibility — that would guide city technology use and procurement.
Key elements of the draft
- Foundation of 10 unchanging principles that articulate the city’s values about dignity, privacy, human‑centered technology and resident participation. - Annual Digital Dignity Rights and Privacy Report: staff would audit projects that affect personal data, report findings publicly and revise policy to address newly emerging risks. - Vendor accountability and transparency: city‑facing vendors would be required to document how they use personal data and supply the documentation for public review. - AI and bias assessments: all AI systems and digital tools that affect the "person data stack" would undergo evaluations to identify and mitigate bias. - Advisory board: a quarterly citizen‑expert group would provide feedback and early review of changes, plus a public roadmap for planned updates.
Legal review and enforcement
Gagnon told council the draft still requires a legal review to determine the most appropriate enforcement mechanisms and any disciplinary or civil remedies the ordinance should contain. He described the draft as primarily inward‑facing — to hold the city and its vendors accountable — and cautioned council that inward obligations raise enforceability questions that will be settled with legal counsel.
Timing and public engagement
Staff said the draft will be posted publicly for comment and that staff intends to return with a first reading in late March and a final reading in April, subject to legal review. Gagnon told council the goal is to keep the ordinance adaptable, to annualize review, and to involve residents and outside experts in implementation.
Ending
Council members praised the structured approach and asked staff to confer with legal about enforceability and potential remedies. Staff requested feedback from council on board composition and enforcement language; Gagnon said he would post a draft and continue public outreach ahead of the March follow‑up.
