San Diego City Council unanimously approves a new privacy advisory board to analyze surveillance legislation going forward.
The new advisory board was given the green light on Tuesday, in the wake of the city secretly installing up to thousands of streetlights equipped with surveillance tools such as microphones and cameras.
With this new oversight of surveillance, the advisory board intends to oversee these secretive actions made by the city by beginning to evaluate proposals that include any type of surveillance.
Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe says that this board will be taking the city in the right direction.
“I want the public to know that oversight is a good thing,” said Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe. “Technology is imperative in the way that we conduct city business, but that does not mean we get a blank check.”
Furthermore, San Diego officials say that they are strongly considering the approval of new legislation that regulates the usage of surveillance equipment and technology by the city.
As of now, city officials have agreed to shut off the surveillance streetlights while the new piece of legislation on the matter is placed on approval status.
The new board will include nine members on the panel, which includes a number of experts in the technical field as well as leaders in the community.
City council members such as Vivian Moreno say that this type of advisory board will play a pivotal role in providing the necessary level of privacy that the city is lacking.
“This board is critical to ensuring we correct many of the privacy and civil liberty failings we have in our city,” Councilmember Vivian Moreno said.
Councilmember Raul Campillo also says that this new board will help provide a balance involving the public safety and privacy of San Diego residents.
“With this board up and running, I’m sure we’ll be able to have a strong voice for the residents of San Diego informing and working as a partner with this council to continue to advocate for the public’s safety and the public’s privacy, which go hand in hand,” Campillo said.
