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As technology related to surveillance has changed in recent years, community member questions and concerns have arisen over how the City of Fort Collins (the City) uses this technology. Fort Collins City Council wants to ensure that we preserve public trust while responsibly using these technologies. We have heard from many community members this year about the importance of accountability, transparency and oversight as it relates to surveillance technology.
Surveillance Technology Governance Policy Development
The City is developing a policy to guide how we use and manage surveillance technology. Key policy components include accountability, transparency, data privacy and oversight of surveillance data the City collects. Our aim is to be thoughtful about how we make decisions around surveillance technology.
How to Get Involved
Community input will inform the surveillance policy that is developed and will be adopted by Council when ready. The City is working with Colorado Humanities to gather community input that will inform the City’s development of a surveillance data and technology governance policy. As a neutral, third-party facilitator, they will conduct a series of community conversations and provide this input to the City to inform the final policy.
Attend the Public Safety Technology Showcase and Panel Discussion: Thursday, September 17, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - More details coming soon
Provide input on the draft policy when it’s ready
As technology related to surveillance has changed in recent years, community member questions and concerns have arisen over how the City of Fort Collins (the City) uses this technology. Fort Collins City Council wants to ensure that we preserve public trust while responsibly using these technologies. We have heard from many community members this year about the importance of accountability, transparency and oversight as it relates to surveillance technology.
Surveillance Technology Governance Policy Development
The City is developing a policy to guide how we use and manage surveillance technology. Key policy components include accountability, transparency, data privacy and oversight of surveillance data the City collects. Our aim is to be thoughtful about how we make decisions around surveillance technology.
How to Get Involved
Community input will inform the surveillance policy that is developed and will be adopted by Council when ready. The City is working with Colorado Humanities to gather community input that will inform the City’s development of a surveillance data and technology governance policy. As a neutral, third-party facilitator, they will conduct a series of community conversations and provide this input to the City to inform the final policy.
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The City's aim in developing this Surveillance Technology Governance Policy is to balance privacy and public benefit.
Technology can create concerns regarding:
Privacy intrusion or feeling watched
Tracking movement or behavior
Constitutional questions
Mission and scope creep and broader future use
Unauthorized data sharing, vendor misuse
Cybersecurity and automation risks
Technology can help the community with:
Safer buses, parks, trails and public spaces
Emergency response and situational awareness
Traffic safety, crashes and congestion
Utility outages, leaks and infrastructure issues
Operational efficiencies and innovation in service delivery
Cybersecurity and protection of public records
The City's aim in developing this Surveillance Technology Governance Policy is to balance privacy and public benefit.
Technology can create concerns regarding:
Privacy intrusion or feeling watched
Tracking movement or behavior
Constitutional questions
Mission and scope creep and broader future use
Unauthorized data sharing, vendor misuse
Cybersecurity and automation risks
Technology can help the community with:
Safer buses, parks, trails and public spaces
Emergency response and situational awareness
Traffic safety, crashes and congestion
Utility outages, leaks and infrastructure issues
Operational efficiencies and innovation in service delivery
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How is the City defining surveillance and related terms when developing this Surveillance Governance Technology policy?
Surveillance: Intentional observation, monitoring, tracking, analysis, or recording of the movements, activities, communications, or behavior of identifiable individuals or groups.
Surveillance Data: Information collected, generated, derived, accessed, or retained through the City's use of Surveillance Technology that relates to Identifiable Individuals or Groups.
Surveillance Technology: A technology whose City use is to conduct surveillance. A tool is not covered solely because it is technically capable of collecting, storing, logging, recording, or analyzing information.
How is the City defining surveillance and related terms when developing this Surveillance Governance Technology policy?
Surveillance: Intentional observation, monitoring, tracking, analysis, or recording of the movements, activities, communications, or behavior of identifiable individuals or groups.
Surveillance Data: Information collected, generated, derived, accessed, or retained through the City's use of Surveillance Technology that relates to Identifiable Individuals or Groups.
Surveillance Technology: A technology whose City use is to conduct surveillance. A tool is not covered solely because it is technically capable of collecting, storing, logging, recording, or analyzing information.
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On Tuesday, July 28, City staff presented to City Council in a work session. Staff shared a policy framework and engagement plan for surveillance data and technology governance. Guiding principles of the policy include safety, privacy, rights and fairness, transparency, accountability, public trust. Overall, Council is supportive of the direction and timeline. The policy will be ready for review this Fall and will go to Council for adoption at the end of 2026.
On Tuesday, July 28, City staff presented to City Council in a work session. Staff shared a policy framework and engagement plan for surveillance data and technology governance. Guiding principles of the policy include safety, privacy, rights and fairness, transparency, accountability, public trust. Overall, Council is supportive of the direction and timeline. The policy will be ready for review this Fall and will go to Council for adoption at the end of 2026.
