Berkeley: Stand Up for Community Control of Police Spy Tech

All residents should be guaranteed an opportunity to comment on proposed surveillance technologies, and the policies constraining their use, before representatives decide whether to adopt them.

This Surveillance Technology Use and Community Safety Ordinance is the result of robust and open debate among the City’s residents, civil society organizations, and government stakeholders. This discussion began with robust conversation in the Police Review Commission, and it has continued through the Peace and Justice Commission and Disaster and Fire Safety Commission. As a result, this Ordinance represents the civil rights and civil liberties values of Berkeley. The City Council now has the opportunity to enshrine these values into local law.

The ordinance is straightforward: it requires essential community control, transparency, and accountability for all surveillance technology proposals, and it ensures the public has the opportunity to learn about the civil rights and civil liberties impact of surveillance technologies before local officials acquire them.

The power to decide whether these tools are acquired, and how they are utilized, should not stand unilaterally with agency executives. Instead, elected City Council members should be empowered with the authority to consider and responsibly approve, or reject, surveillance technology. Most importantly, all residents must be provided an opportunity to comment on proposed surveillance technologies, and the policies constraining their use, before representatives decide whether to adopt them.

Now is the time to let your City Council Members know you stand with them and the people of Berkeley in the fight to maintain the privacy and community safety the people of Berkeley deserve. Please write to the City Council and urge them to adopt the Surveillance and Community Safety Ordinance. Now.