Search â–¸ Agenda item attachment
A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to proposed revisions to the draft Surveillance Ordinance. QUESTION COMES ON PASSAGE TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 10, 2018
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 1 of 13
Chapter 2.128 Surveillance Technology Ordinance
Section 2.128.010
Purpose
The purpose of this Chapter is to provide for the regulation of Surveillance Technology
acquisition or use by the City of Cambridge or the use of the Surveillance Data it provides, to
safeguard the right of individuals to privacy, to balance the public’s right to privacy with the
need to promote and ensure safety and security, to provide protocols for use of Surveillance
Technology or Surveillance Data that include specific steps to mitigate potential impacts on the
civil rights and liberties of any communities or groups including communities of color or other
marginalized communities in the City, to balance any decision to use Surveillance Technology
with an assessment of the costs and protection of privacy, civil liberties and civil rights, to allow
for informed public discussion before deploying Surveillance Technology, to provide for
transparency, oversight, and accountability, and to minimize the risks posed by use of
Surveillance Technology in the City.
Section 2.128.020
Definitions
The following definitions apply to this Chapter:
(A)
“Annual Surveillance Report” means a written report submitted by the City Manager
on an annual basis concerning specific Surveillance Technology used by any City
department during the previous year and containing the information set forth in Section
2.128.060(B) of this Chapter.
(B)
“Exigent Circumstances” means the Police Commissioner’s or the Police
Commissioner’s designee’s good faith belief that an emergency involving danger of
death, physical injury, or significant property damage or loss requires use of the
Surveillance Technology or the Surveillance Data it provides. The use of Surveillance
Technology in Exigent Circumstances shall not infringe upon an individual’s right to
peacefully protest.
(C)
“Identifiable Individuals” means an individual whose identity can be
revealed by data, including Surveillance Data, or revealed by data when it
is analyzed and/or combined with any record.
(D)
“Surveillance” means the act of observing or analyzing the movements,
behavior, or actions of Identifiable Individuals.
(E)
“Surveillance Data” means any electronic data collected, captured,
recorded, retained, processed, intercepted, or analyzed by Surveillance
Technology acquired by the City or operated at the direction of the City.
(G)
“Surveillance Technology” means any electronic surveillance device,
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 2 of 13
hardware, or software that is capable of collecting, capturing, recording,
retaining, processing, intercepting, analyzing, monitoring, or sharing audio,
visual, digital, location, thermal, biometric, or similar information
specifically associated with, or capable of being associated with, any
Identifiable Individual or group; or any system, device, or vehicle that is
equipped with an electronic surveillance device, hardware, or software.
(1)
“Surveillance Technology” includes, but is not limited to:
(a)
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (“IMSI”) catchers
and other cell site simulators;
(b)
Automatic license plate readers;
(c)
Electronic toll readers;
(d)
Closed-circuit television cameras except as otherwise
provided herein;
(e)
Biometric Surveillance Technology, including facial, voice,
iris, and gait-recognition software and databases;
(f)
Mobile DNA capture technology;
(g)
Gunshot detection and location hardware and services;
(h)
X-ray vans;
(i)
Video and audio monitoring and/or recording technology,
such as surveillance cameras and wearable body cameras;
(j)
Surveillance enabled or capable lightbulbs or light fixtures;
(k)
Tools, including software and hardware, used to gain
unauthorized access to a computer, computer service, or
computer network;
(l)
Social media monitoring software;
(m)
Through-the-wall radar or similar imaging technology;
(n)
Passive scanners of radio networks;
(o)
Long-range Bluetooth and other wireless-scanning devices;
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 3 of 13
(p)
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanners; and
(q)
Software designed to integrate or analyze data from
Surveillance Technology, including surveillance target
tracking and predictive policing software.
(2)
For the purposes of this Chapter, “Surveillance
Technology” does not include the following devices or hardware,
unless they have been equipped with, or are modified to become or
include, a Surveillance Technology as defined above:
(a)
Routine office hardware, such as televisions, computers,
and printers, that are in widespread public use and will not
be used for any surveillance or surveillance-related
functions;
(b)
Parking Ticket Devices (“PTDs”) and related databases;
(c)
Manually-operated, non-wearable, handheld digital
cameras, audio recorders, and video recorders that are not
designed to be used surreptitiously and whose functionality
is used for manually capturing and manually downloading
video and/or audio recordings;
(d)
Surveillance devices that cannot record or transmit audio or
video or be remotely accessed, such as image stabilizing
binoculars or night vision goggles;
(e)
City databases that do not and will not contain any
Surveillance Data or other information collected, captured,
recorded, retained, processed, intercepted, or analyzed by
Surveillance Technology;
(f)
Manually-operated technological devices that are used
primarily for internal City communications and are not
designed to surreptitiously collect Surveillance Data, such
as radios and email systems;
(g)
Parking access and revenue control systems, including
proximity card readers and transponder readers at City-
owned or controlled parking garages; and
(h)
Electronic card readers and key fobs used by City
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 4 of 13
employees and other authorized persons for access to City-
owned or controlled buildings and property.
(H)
“Surveillance Technology Impact Report” means a written report submitted by the
City Manager with a request for approval of acquisition or use of Surveillance
Technology, and which includes, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in Section
2.128.030(C).
(I)
“Surveillance Use Policy” means a policy for the City’s use of Surveillance
Technology, approved by the City Solicitor and the City Manager, and submitted by
the City Manager to and approved by the City Council. The Surveillance Use Policy
shall at a minimum satisfy the requirements set forth in Subsection 2.128.050(B).
(J)
“Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy” means a policy governing the City’s
use of a specific Surveillance Technology not already covered under the City’s
Surveillance Use Policy, approved by the City Solicitor and the City Manager, and
submitted by the City Manager to the City Council with a Surveillance Technology
Impact Report under Section 2.128.030(A), 2.128.030(B), or 2.128.040 of this Chapter.
Section 2.128.030
Submission to the City Council of Surveillance Technology Impact
Report and Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy
The City Manager must seek approval from the City Council as set forth in this Section prior to
the City seeking funds for, acquiring, using or entering into an agreement to acquire, share or
otherwise use, Surveillance Technology as defined in this Chapter.
(A)
Acquisition of Surveillance Technology by City Departments Other than the
Police Department. For any department other than the Police Department, for which
approval under Section 2.128.030 of this Chapter is sought, the City Manager must
submit to the City Council a Surveillance Technology Impact Report, and, if necessary, a
Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy pertaining to the specific Surveillance
Technology for which approval is sought and obtain City Council approval before doing
any of the following:
(1)
Seeking funds for Surveillance Technology, including but not limited to,
applying for a grant, or accepting state or federal funds, or in-kind or other
donations;
(2)
Acquiring new Surveillance Technology, including but not limited to
procuring that Surveillance Technology without the exchange of monies
or other consideration;
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 5 of 13
(3)
Using Surveillance Technology for a purpose, in a manner, or in a location
not previously approved; or
(4)
Entering into an agreement with a non-City entity to acquire, share, or otherwise
use Surveillance Technology or the Surveillance Data it provides.
(B)
Acquisition of Surveillance Technology by the Police Department. Other than with
respect to Surveillance Technology limited to use in Exigent Circumstances in law
enforcement investigations and prosecutions as specifically defined in Section 2.128.040
of this Chapter, the City Manager must submit a Surveillance Technology Impact
Report, and, if necessary, a Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy pertaining to
the specific Surveillance Technology for which approval is sought to the City Council
and obtain City Council approval, before doing any of the following:
(1)
Seeking funds for Surveillance Technology, including but not limited to,
applying for a grant, or accepting state or federal funds, or in-kind or other
donations;
(2)
Acquiring new Surveillance Technology, including but not limited to procuring
that technology without the exchange of monies or other consideration;
(3)
Using Surveillance Technology for a purpose, in a manner, or in a location not
previously approved; or
(4)
Entering into an agreement with a non-City entity to acquire, share, or
otherwise use Surveillance Technology.
(C)
Contents of Surveillance Technology Impact Report. A Surveillance Technology
Impact Report submitted pursuant to Subsections (A) or (B) above shall include all of the
following:
(1)
Information describing the Surveillance Technology and how it works;
(2)
Information on the proposed purpose(s) for the Surveillance Technology;
(3)
The location(s) it may be deployed and when;
(4)
The potential impact(s) on privacy in the City; the potential impact on the civil
rights and liberties of any communities or groups, including, but not limited to,
communities of color or other marginalized communities in the City, and a
description of whether there is a plan to address the impact(s);
(5)
The fiscal costs for the Surveillance Technology, including initial purchase,
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 6 of 13
personnel and other ongoing costs, and any current or potential sources of
funding; and
(6)
If necessary, a Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy.
(D)
Contents of Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy. A Technology Specific
Surveillance Use Policy submitted under Subsections (A) or (B) above or Section
2.178.040 below shall not conflict with any provision of the City’s Surveillance Use
Policy. To the extent a conflict arises between the provisions of the City’s Surveillance
Use Policy and a Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy, the City’s Surveillance
Use Policy shall govern. A Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy submitted
under Subsections (A) or (B) above or Section 2.178.040 below shall include all of the
following:
(1)
Purpose: The specific purpose(s) for the Surveillance Technology;
(2)
Authorized Use: The uses that are authorized, the rules and processes required
before that use, and the uses that are prohibited;
(3)
Data Collection: The Surveillance Data that can be collected by the Surveillance
Technology;
(4)
Data Access: The individuals who can access or use the collected Surveillance
Data, and the rules and processes required before access or use of the
information;
(5)
Data Protection: The safeguards that protect information from unauthorized
access, including, but not limited to, encryption, access-control, and
access-oversight mechanisms;
(6)
Data Retention: The time period, if any, for which information collected by the
Surveillance Technology will be routinely retained, the reason that retention
period is appropriate to further the purpose(s), the process by which the
information is regularly deleted after that period has elapsed, and the conditions
that must be met to retain information beyond that period;
(7)
Public Access: If and how collected Surveillance Data can be accessed by
members of the public, including criminal defendants;
(8)
Third-Party Data-Sharing: If and how other City or non-City entities can access
or use the Surveillance Data, including any required justification and legal
standard necessary to do so, and any obligation(s) imposed on the recipient of the
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 7 of 13
Surveillance Data;
(9)
Training: The training, if any, required for any individual authorized to use the
Surveillance Technology or to access information collected by the Surveillance
Technology, including whether there are training materials; and
(10)
Oversight: The mechanisms to ensure that the Surveillance Use Policy is
followed, including, but not limited to, identifying personnel assigned to ensure
compliance with the policy, internal record keeping of the use of the technology
or access to information collected by the Surveillance Technology, technical
measures to monitor for misuse, any independent person or entity with oversight
authority, and the sanctions for violations of the policy.
(E)
In approving, and/or disapproving any acquisition of Surveillance Technology, the City
Council shall consider the safeguarding of individuals’ right to privacy as well as the
investigative and prosecutorial functions of the Police Department and promoting and
ensuring the safety and security of the general public.
(F)
Any Surveillance Technology Impact Report, and, if necessary, Technology-Specific
Surveillance Use Policy submitted to the City Council under Section 2.128.030(A) or
2.128.030(B) shall be made publicly available no fewer than seven (7) calendar days
prior to the date of the Council meeting where it shall be discussed.
Section 2.128.040
Temporary Acquisition and Use of Surveillance Technology in
Exigent Circumstances
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, the Police Department may temporarily acquire
or temporarily use Surveillance Technology in Exigent Circumstances for a period not to exceed
90 days without following the provisions of this Chapter before that acquisition or use.
However, if the Police Department acquires or uses Surveillance Technology in Exigent
Circumstances under this Section, the Police Commissioner must (1) report that acquisition or
use to the City Council in writing within 90 days following the end of those Exigent
Circumstances; (2) submit a Surveillance Technology Impact Report, and, if necessary, a
Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy to the City Council regarding that Surveillance
Technology within 90 days following the end of those Exigent Circumstances; and (3) include
that Surveillance Technology in the Police Department's next Annual Surveillance Report to the
City Council following the end of those Exigent Circumstances. If the Police Commissioner is
unable to meet the 90-day timeline to submit a Surveillance Technology Impact Report, and, if
necessary, a Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy to the City Council, the Police
Commissioner may notify the City Council in writing requesting to extend this period. The City
Council may grant extensions beyond the original 90-day timeline to submit a Surveillance
Technology Impact Report, and, if necessary, a Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy.
Any Surveillance Technology Impact Report, and, if necessary, Technology-Specific
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 8 of 13
Surveillance Use Policy submitted to the City Council under this Section shall be made publicly
available no fewer than seven (7) calendar days prior to the date of the Council meeting where it
shall be discussed.
Section 2.128.050
Submission to the City Council of Surveillance Use Policy
(A)
The City Manager shall submit to the City Council for its review and approval a
proposed Surveillance Use Policy applicable to each City department that possesses or
uses Surveillance Technology before the effective date of this Chapter or for future use
and acquisition of Surveillance Technology, no later than one-hundred eighty (180) days
following the effective date of this Chapter, for review and approval by the City Council.
If the City Manager is unable to meet this 180-day timeline, the City Manager may
notify the City Council in writing requesting to extend this period. The City Council
may grant an extension to the City Manager to submit a proposed Surveillance Use
Policy. Any Surveillance Use Policy submitted under Section 2.128.050 shall be made
publicly available no fewer than seven (7) calendar days prior to the date of the Council
meeting where it shall be discussed.
(B)
A Surveillance Use Policy shall at a minimum specify the following:
(1)
Purpose: The specific purpose(s) for the Surveillance Technology;
(2)
Authorized Use: The uses that are authorized, the rules and processes required
before that use, and the uses that are prohibited;
(3)
Data Collection: The Surveillance Data that can be collected by the
Surveillance Technology;
(4)
Data Access: The individuals who can access or use the collected Surveillance
Data, and the rules and processes required before access or use of the
information;
(5)
Data Protection: The safeguards that protect information from unauthorized
access, including, but not limited to, encryption, access-control, and
access-oversight mechanisms;
(6)
Data Retention: The time period, if any, for which information collected by the
Surveillance Technology will be routinely retained, the reason that retention
period is appropriate to further the purpose(s), the process by which the
information is regularly deleted after that period has elapsed, and the conditions
that must be met to retain information beyond that period;
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 9 of 13
(7)
Public Access: If and how collected Surveillance Data can be accessed by
members of the public, including criminal defendants;
(8)
Third-Party Data-Sharing: If and how other City or non-City entities can access
or use the Surveillance Data, including any required justification and legal
standard necessary to do so, and any obligation(s) imposed on the recipient of
the Surveillance Data;
(9)
Training: The training, if any, required for any individual authorized to use the
Surveillance Technology or to access information collected by the Surveillance
Technology, including whether there are training materials; and
(10)
Oversight: The mechanisms to ensure that the Surveillance Use Policy is
followed, including, but not limited to, identifying personnel assigned to ensure
compliance with the policy, internal record keeping of the use of the technology
or access to information collected by the Surveillance Technology, technical
measures to monitor for misuse, any independent person or entity with oversight
authority, and the sanctions for violations of the policy.
(C)
In considering the Surveillance Use Policy, the City Council shall balance the
safeguarding of individuals’ right to privacy as well as the investigative and
prosecutorial function of the Police Department and promoting and ensuring the safety
and security of the general public.
Section 2.128.060
Submission to the City Council of Annual Surveillance Report
(A)
Within twelve (12) months of City Council approval, and annually thereafter on or
before March 1, the City Manager must submit an Annual Surveillance Report pertaining
to each City department for which approval for the use of Surveillance Technology or
Surveillance Data has been obtained under Section 2.128.030 or Section 2.128.040 of
this Chapter. Any Annual Surveillance Report submitted under this section shall be
made publicly available no fewer than seven (7) calendar days prior to the date of the
Council meeting where it shall be discussed.
(B)
The Annual Surveillance Report submitted pursuant to this Section shall include all of
the following:
(1)
A description of how the Surveillance Technology has been used, including
whether it captured images, sound, or information regarding members of the
public who are not suspected of engaging in unlawful conduct;
(2)
Whether and how often data acquired through the use of the Surveillance
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 10 of 13
Technology was shared with outside entities, the name of any recipient entity,
the type(s) of data disclosed, under what legal standard(s) the information was
disclosed, and the justification for the disclosure;
(3)
A summary of community complaints or concerns about the Surveillance
Technology, if any;
(4)
The results of any non-privileged internal audits, any information about
violations of the Surveillance Use Policy, and any actions taken in response;
(5)
Whether the Surveillance Technology has been effective at achieving its
identified purpose;
(6)
Statistics on public records requests received by the City seeking documents
concerning Surveillance Technology approved during the previous year;
(7)
Total annual costs for the Surveillance Technology, including personnel and
other ongoing costs, and what source of funding will fund the technology in the
coming year; and
(8)
Whether the civil rights and liberties of any communities or groups, including
communities of color or other marginalized communities in the City are
disproportionately impacted by the deployment of the Surveillance Technology.
(C)
Based upon information provided in the Annual Surveillance Report, the City Council
shall determine whether the benefits to the impacted City department(s) and the
community of the Surveillance Technology outweigh the financial and operational costs
and whether reasonable safeguards exist to address reasonable concerns regarding
privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights impacted by deployment of the Surveillance
Technology. If the benefits or reasonably anticipated benefits do not outweigh the
financial and/or operational costs or civil liberties or civil rights are not reasonably
safeguarded, the City Council may (1) recommend modifications to the Surveillance Use
Policy that are designed to address the City Council's concerns to the City Manager for
his consideration; and/or (2) request a report back from the City Manager regarding steps
taken to address the City Council's concerns; and/or (3) disapprove further use of the
Surveillance Technology.
(D)
No later than May 31 of each year, the City Council shall hold a meeting to discuss the
City departments’ Annual Surveillance Reports, and shall publicly release a report that
includes a summary of all requests for approval of Surveillance Technology Impact
Reports received by the City Council during the prior year pursuant to Section 2.128.030
or Section 2.128.040 of this Chapter, including whether the City Council approved,
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 11 of 13
disapproved, or required modifications to the Surveillance Technology Impact Report.
Section 2.128.070
Exemptions and Exceptions
(A)
Exemptions. For the purposes of this Chapter, the following Surveillance Technology is
exempt from the requirements of this Chapter:
(1)
Surveillance Data acquired where the individual knowingly and voluntarily
consented to provide the information, such as submitting personal information
for the receipt of City services;
(2)
Surveillance Data acquired where the individual was presented with a clear and
conspicuous opportunity to opt out of providing the information;
(3)
Cameras installed pursuant to state law authorization in or on any vehicle or
along a public right-of-way solely to record traffic violations;
(4)
Cameras installed on City property solely for security purposes, including closed
circuit television cameras installed by the City to monitor entryways and outdoor
areas of City-owned or controlled buildings and property for the purpose of
controlling access, maintaining the safety of City employees and visitors to City
buildings, and protecting City property;
(5)
Security cameras including closed circuit television cameras installed by the City
to monitor cashiers’ windows and other cash-handling operations and to
maintain the safety of City employees and visitors to such areas;
(6)
Cameras installed solely to protect the physical integrity of City infrastructure;
or
(7)
Technology that monitors only City employees in response to complaints of
wrongdoing or in order to prevent waste, fraud, or abuse of City resources.
(B)
Exceptions. The following situations constitute Surveillance, but are exceptions to the
requirements of this Chapter:
(1)
Surveillance conducted pursuant to a warrant using previously approved
Surveillance Technology. Surveillance conducted pursuant to a warrant using
previously approved Surveillance Technology is excepted from the requirements
of 2.128.030(B) and 2.128.060 where: i) the City is prohibited from publicly
releasing information pertaining to the surveillance under federal or state law, or
pursuant to a Court Order; or ii) the Police Commissioner has determined that
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 12 of 13
the release of information pertaining to the surveillance would compromise
public safety and security, provided that the information is released in the next
Annual Surveillance Report following the Police Commissioner’s determination
that public safety and security concerns pertaining to the release of such
information no longer exist.
(2)
A City department head may, with the approval of the City Manager, apply a
technical patch or upgrade that is necessary to mitigate threats to the City’s
environment. The department shall not use the new surveillance capabilities of
the technology until the requirements of Section 2.128.030 are met, unless the
City Manager determines that the use is unavoidable; in that case, the City
Manager shall request City Council approval as soon as possible. The request
shall include a report to the City Council of how the altered surveillance
capabilities were used since the time of the upgrade.
Section 2.128.080
Enforcement
(A)
Enforcement Officials. This Chapter shall be enforced by the City Manager or the City
Manager’s designee.
(B)
Violation. Any person injured by a violation of this Chapter may institute proceedings
for injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or a court order in a court of competent
jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Chapter. Any action initiated under this
Subsection (B) shall be brought against the City of Cambridge, but not against City
employees. No monetary damages shall be allowed in any legal proceeding for any
alleged injuries arising out of any alleged violation(s) of this Chapter.
(C)
Whistleblower Protections. Subject to the limitations and requirements set forth in G. L.
c. 149, § 185 (the “Massachusetts Whistleblower Statute” or “Section 185”) as it may be
amended from time to time, any City employee as defined in Section 185 who reports an
alleged violation of this Ordinance, shall be afforded protections against retaliation if
applicable pursuant to Section 185, as set forth in and subject to the limitations and
requirements of Section 185.
(D)
Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to limit or affect any individual’s rights under
state or federal laws.
Section 2.128.090
Severability
The provisions in this Chapter are severable. If any part or provision of this Chapter, or the
application of this Chapter to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by a court of competent
jurisdiction, the remainder of this Chapter shall not be affected by such holding and shall
Draft 11/13/18 clean
Page 13 of 13
continue to have full force and effect.
Section 2.128.100
Effective Date
This Chapter shall take effect nine months after its adoption.