Surveillance Technology

Vea el PDF aquí

Esta política establece un marco a nivel de toda la ciudad para garantizar que la tecnología de vigilancia se utilice de manera legal, responsable, transparente y con sólidas medidas de protección y mecanismos de rendición de cuentas.

Elementos clave

• Propósito y necesidad claros: Usar solo cuando hay una necesidad específica y legítima y no hay una alternativa razonable.
• Privacidad y derechos civiles: Proteger la privacidad, los derechos civiles y las libertades civiles mientras se sirve a la comunidad.
• Revisión y aprobación: Utilizar un marco de decisión y completar las revisiones requeridas antes de la implementación.
• Medidas de protección y uso responsable: Limitar la recopilación y el uso de datos, proteger los datos, establecer límites de retención y restringir el acceso.
• Transparencia y rendición de cuentas: Informar al público, informar sobre los usos y permitir la supervisión y auditoría.
• Mejora continua: Capacitar al personal, auditar el cumplimiento y actualizar las prácticas a medida que evolucionan la tecnología y los riesgos.

¿Qué es la tecnología de vigilancia?

• Tecnología que se usa intencionalmente para observar, monitorear, rastrear, analizar o registrar personas o grupos identificables.
• Esto incluye tecnologías que:
• Recopilan o crean datos de vigilancia
• Usan cámaras, sensores, datos de ubicación, registros, análisis o inteligencia artificial
• Tienen capacidades que se supone que están sujetas a la política, independientemente del uso actual
• Se aplica a TODOS los departamentos y operaciones de la Ciudad cuando la vigilancia es el uso principal de la tecnología.

¿A qué se aplica esta política?

Se aplica a TODOS los departamentos y operaciones de la Ciudad cuando la vigilancia es el uso principal de la tecnología.

Se aplica cuando:

• El uso principal de la tecnología es observar, monitorear, rastrear, analizar o registrar personas o grupos identificables.

NO aplica simplemente porque un sistema tiene:

• Cámaras, sensores, registros, datos de ubicación, análisis o capacidades de inteligencia artificial, a menos que esas capacidades se utilicen para vigilancia.

Marco de decisión: 5 preguntas clave

1. ¿La Ciudad está utilizando intencionalmente la tecnología para observar, monitorear, rastrear, analizar o registrar personas o grupos identificables?
2. ¿El uso es planificado, recurrente, significativo para las operaciones o programático?
3. ¿Hay un propósito gubernamental autorizado?
4. ¿El uso es necesario, apropiado y proporcional al propósito aprobado?
5. ¿Se han cumplido los requisitos de gobernanza (revisiones y aprobaciones) antes de la implementación?

Si alguna respuesta es “no”, la política no se aplica o el uso no está contemplado, a menos que lo exija la ley o se remita a revisión. Si todas las respuestas son “sí”, complete la revisión requerida y siga las medidas de protección.

Requisitos fundamentales

• Informe de impacto de la tecnología de vigilancia (requerido para usos contemplados)
• Política sobre uso de la vigilancia (requerida para usos contemplados)
• Gobernanza de datos, límites de retención, controles de acceso y seguridad
• Estándares sólidos para proveedores y adquisiciones
• Requisitos de uso responsable y capacitación del personal
• Auditorías, monitoreo del cumplimiento y mejora de políticas
• Transparencia, rendición de cuentas pública e informes
• Solo para uso de emergencia según lo permita la ley

Tecnologías presuntamente sujetas a esta política

• Reconocimiento facial u otra identificación biométrica de personas
• Rastreo persistente o masivo de la ubicación o movimientos de personas o vehículos identificables a lo largo del tiempo
• Otras tecnologías cuyo uso principal es la vigilancia de personas o grupos identificables

Equilibrio entre la privacidad y la gobernanza efectiva:

• Esta política promueve el uso responsable de la tecnología de vigilancia que respeta la privacidad, apoya la confianza pública y avanza las prioridades de la Ciudad.

Resumen de la política preliminar para su discusión. No es una política oficial.

View the pdf here

This policy establishes a Citywide framework to ensure surveillance technology is used lawfully, responsibly, transparently, and with strong safeguards and accountability.

Key Elements

• Clear Purpose & Necessity: Use only when there is a specific, legitimate need and no reasonable alternative.
• Privacy & Civil Rights: Protect privacy, civil rights and civil liberties while serving the community.
• Review & Approval: Use a decision framework and complete required reviews before implementation.
• Safeguards & Responsible Use: Limit collection and use, protect data, set retention limits and restrict access.
• Transparency & Accountability: Inform the public, report uses, and allow oversight and auditing.
• Continuous Improvement: Train staff, audit compliance, and update practices as technology and risks evolve.

What is Surveillance Technology?

Technology intentionally used to observe, monitor, track, analyze, or record identifiable individuals or groups. This includes technologies that:

• Collect or create surveillance data
• Use cameras, sensors, location data, logs, analytics or artificial intelligence
• Have capabilities that are presumptively within the policy’s scope, regardless of current use

What matters most is primary use. This policy applies when surveillance is the primary use of the technology.

What Does This Policy Apply To?

Applies across ALL City departments and operations when surveillance is the primary Use of the technology.

Applies when:

• The primary use of the technology is to observe, monitor, track, analyze, or record identifiable individuals or groups.

Does NOT apply simply because a system has:

• Cameras, sensors, logs, location data, analytics or artificial intelligence capabilities – unless those capabilities are used for Surveillance.

Decision Framework:

5 Key Questions

1. Is the City intentionally using technology to observe, monitor, track, analyze or record identifiable individuals or groups?
2. Is the use planned, recurring, operationally significant or programmatic?
3. Is there an authorized governmental purpose?
4. Is the use necessary, appropriate and proportionate to the approved purpose?
5. Has the required governance been completed (reviews and approvals) Before implementation?

If any answer is “no,” the policy does not apply or the use is outside scope, unless required by law or directed for review. If “yes” to all, complete required review and follow safeguards.

Foundational Requirements

• Surveillance Technology Impact Report (required for in-scope uses)
• Surveillance Use Policy (required for in-scope uses)
• Data governance, retention limits, access controls and security
• Strong vendor and procurement standards
• Responsible use requirements and staff training
• Audits, compliance monitoring and policy improvement
• Transparency, public accountability and reporting
• Emergency use only as permitted by law

Technologies Presumptively Within Scope

• Facial recognition or other biometric identification of individuals
• Persistent or bulk tracking of the location or movements of Identifiable individuals or vehicles over time
• Other technologies whose primary use is surveillance of Identifiable people or groups

Balancing Privacy and Effective Governance

This policy promotes responsible use of surveillance technology that respects privacy, supports public trust and advances City priorities.

Draft summary for discussion. Not an official policy.

A draft policy overview of the Surveillance Technology Governance Policy is now ready for review! You can view the documents here:

• Draft Policy Overview - English
• Resumen de la política preliminar - Español

This draft policy overview was developed through community feedback - over 150 comments were received from City Council process. It applies to technology administered by the City of Fort Collins.

Visit the link below to share your input. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete and will be open until Wednesday, October 7. Your input will be used to develop a draft policy that will be publicly available this Fall.

Take the survey here.

1. Who will be making the decision about final surveillance policy? City Council will adopt the final policy at a City Council meeting at the end of 2026.
2. What is the role of the focus groups facilitated by Colorado Humanities? Focus group members will share perspectives related to surveillance in our community. Colorado Humanities will summarize feedback and provide this information to City staff to consider when writing the surveillance policy.
3. What is the timeline for this project? A policy will be presented to City Council by the end of 2026. A full timeline can be found in the Key Dates section on the right side of this page.
4. Why is this process moving quickly? The City currently has active technologies in place, and we have a responsibility to establish formal governance, clear accountability, and public transparency without delay. Rather than waiting to build a policy after acquiring new tools, this rapid timeline ensures our existing operations align with strict privacy standards and community expectations right now.

Are you interested in learning more about some of the technologies the City of Fort Collins uses to keep our community safe? Join us for a presentation and panel discussion to learn more. Focus areas include Police Services, FC911, Light & Power, GIS and Information Technology. Light refreshments will be provided.

• When: Thursday, September 17, 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80526 View Map

If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. Providing an RSVP is optional, but it helps us know how many people to expect and if you have any accommodation requests.

The City's aim in developing this Surveillance Technology Governance Policy is to balance privacy and public benefit.

How is the City defining surveillance and related terms when developing this Surveillance Technology Governance 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.

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.

Materials can be viewed here: https://fortcollins-co.municodemeetings.com/bc-citycouncil/page/city-council-work-session-74