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Austin Council adopts 'Trust Act' to add privacy reviews for city surveillance tech
Summary
The council approved an ordinance requiring privacy-impact assessments and public review windows before the city acquires certain surveillance technologies. Amendments shortened exigent-use windows and directed a one‑year review of procurement impacts.
Austin’s City Council adopted a surveillance procurement ordinance — the Trust Act — on April 23, creating a formal privacy‑impact assessment and public-review workflow for city use of surveillance technology.
Mayor Pro Tem Vela led the ordinance changes, tightening timeframes so the public and council have more time to review proposed contracts and shortening the window for exigent-use exceptions. Supporters — including privacy advocates and community groups — said the law will help the public and elected officials…
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