Rules Committee hears broad support for 'Stop Secret Surveillance' ordinance; Peskin seeks one‑week continuance

The Rules Committee advanced extensive public debate on an ordinance aimed at bringing city surveillance technology acquisitions into public view and under democratic oversight, but did not vote on final adoption. Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced the measure — commonly referred to as the "Stop Secret Surveillance" ordinance — which would require city departments that acquire, use or access surveillance technology to develop and publish use policies and submit surveillance impact reports and funding requests to the Board of Supervisors for public review.

Peskin framed the ordinance as an attempt to prevent secret surveillance while retaining legitimate uses of technology for public safety. He described the proposal as modeled on similar local laws adopted in other Bay Area jurisdictions and said the measure is…