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County delays decision on Peregrine data analytics platform after sustained public concern
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Summary
The board continued consideration of a sheriff’s office exception contract with Peregrine Technologies to May 12 after residents, academics and advocates raised privacy, facial‑recognition and data‑sharing concerns. The sheriff's office said the system does not currently integrate with ALPRs and is 'strictly data analytics.'
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors continued discussion of an exception contract with Peregrine Technologies after a lengthy public comment period and questions from supervisors.
What happened: During item 36, the sheriff's office told the board Peregrine does not currently integrate with the county’s automated license‑plate reader system and that the company is not a facial‑recognition vendor. "It does not integrate with our ALPR system right now," a sheriff’s representative said, and the office described Peregrine as a dashboard and analytics tool for data the sheriff already holds.
Why residents pushed back: Dozens of callers — including local nonprofit leaders, technologists and academic researchers — urged the board not to extend or renew contracts that would consolidate sensitive data into a single platform. Commenters warned that aggregated databases generate pressure to add more data and more access, increase the risk of misuse, and have downstream consequences for marginalized communities. Several referenced Palantir and executive ties between firms.
Board reaction: Supervisors pressed county counsel and the county administrator on how recent state legislation (SB 11‑93) and local procurement rules would affect items such as funding partnerships and examples cited by supervisors. Given the volume of public concern and new materials that arrived the day of the meeting, the board agreed to continue the Peregrine item to the regular calendar on May 12 to give supervisors and staff more time to review and to allow the sheriff time to answer outstanding technical and legal questions.
Next steps: Item 36 is continued to May 12; the sheriff said the office will respond to the specific technical and legal questions and work with the county on procurement language and protections before any approval.
