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Commission backs charter language to limit surveillance and add privacy oversight
Summary
The commission agreed to forward charter-level language for council/attorney review that would require the city to adopt protections governing collection, retention and oversight of surveillance and data technologies and to consider creating a privacy/technology oversight board and limits on facial recognition.
Charter Review Commission members voted unanimously to advance proposed charter language that would direct the city to adopt protections governing the collection, use, retention and oversight of data and surveillance technologies, and to create approval processes and a responsible-AI framework.
The proposal — introduced as a possible Article 2 amendment — calls for protections against misuse of technology (including facial recognition), limits on how vendors may use city-generated data, and creation of transparent review processes. Supporters said the measure would preserve civil liberties while leaving room for city government to use modern tools; opponents warned that excessive specificity in the charter could become outdated as technology evolves and argued some items belong at the ordinance or policy level.
City staff (Trista) and other members said the commission’s intent was to give the city attorney a clear direction to draft language that bounds municipal use of surveillance and data tools and establishes oversight. The motion to advance the draft to the city attorney for legal refinement passed unanimously; the commission asked for any contractor/vendor data-use limits and warrant-related protections to be included in the attorney-drafted version. The drafted amendment will return for review before any ballot or council action.
