Council directs report on surveillance technologies after public concern about privacy and immigration enforcement

Pittsburgh City Council unanimously approved a resolution on April 7 requiring the Department of Innovation and Performance to publish and submit a report on the city’s use of surveillance technologies. The resolution (Bill 287) instructs the department to identify what technologies the city uses or is considering, examine data-handling and privacy protections, and inform council and the public of findings.

Councilwoman Deborah Gross, who presented the bill, said the measure was prompted by rapid changes in marketplace capabilities and concerns about data privacy. She noted the need for council and the public to understand both current technology capabilities and the associated data risks.

Public comment preceding the vote emphasized civil-rights and privacy concerns. Rosanna Alena Gernika, a law student, and other speakers linked surveillance tools—such as license-plate readers, facial recognition, and data-sharing systems—to immigration enforcement and argued for transparency because placement of such technologies can disproportionately affect neighborhoods of color. Inform.org presented a short survey indicating 81% of respondents listed civil-rights or data-privacy as their primary concern about city surveillance.

Council approved the resolution and scheduled a post-agenda session on privacy and surveillance technologies to hear experts and staff; roll call recorded nine "I" votes and zero "no" votes. Council also indicated staff will work with Gross’s office and the clerk to schedule follow-up briefings.

The resolution does not specify new funding for independent audits or additional privacy safeguards; it directs the department to report publicly on existing practices and technologies.