Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Surveillance Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council tightens public-surveillance rules, closing a commercial-data loophole
Summary
Medford voted to amend its CCOPS ordinance to require deletion of surveillance data obtained in violation of the ordinance and to forbid city purchase/use of commercially generated surveillance datasets without the public review process; sponsors said the tweaks restore the ordinance's original intent.
The City Council on Dec. 17 approved, for first reading, targeted amendments to the community-control-of-public-surveillance (CCOPS) ordinance passed in 2023. The amendments require that any video or other data recorded or obtained illegally or in violation of the ordinance be destroyed and not used in criminal or civil proceedings (except enforcement of the ordinance itself). The revisions also close a previously identified loophole that could allow the city to rely on commercially purchased surveillance datasets without open public review.
Supporters said the changes align the law with the council's earlier intent to subject any municipal surveillance technology or data use to a public process; critics urged caution to preserve legitimate investigative tools. After public testimony from civil-liberties advocates and residents, the council approved the amendments for first reading.
