San Francisco Becomes First US City to Ban Government Facial Recognition
San Francisco outlaws facial recognition technology for police and city agencies, becoming the first U.S. city to implement such a ban. The new ordinance also mandates strict disclosure and approval rules for other surveillance tools.
San Francisco makes history as the first U.S. city to ban government use of facial recognition technology. The city's Board of Supervisors votes 8-1 in favor of the measure, setting a precedent that other cities and states potentially follow. The ban applies specifically to police and local city agencies, while leaving personal, business, and federal use unaffected.
Beyond the facial recognition ban, the new ordinance requires city departments to disclose any existing or planned surveillance technologies. Departments must also spell out their policies for using these tools, securing direct approval from the Board of Supervisors before deployment. This transparency mandate aims to give local lawmakers more control over how authorities monitor the public.
The decision stems from growing concerns about civil liberties and racial bias in biometric software. Studies show higher error rates for women and darker-skinned individuals, fueling arguments against the technology. While some activists support the ban, others argue a temporary moratorium makes more sense, suggesting the city keep the door open for future improvements in the technology.