Austin's new TRUST Act is here to make sure the city isn't overstepping with surveillance tech. It's all about keeping tabs on how they use the cameras and other tools that watch us, aiming for responsible use.
At a glance
Rising — being discussed more frequently. 1 mention in the last 30 days, 1 the 60 before, 3 the 90 before that.
The contract could cost up to $2 million over three years, with $400,000 allocated for the first year.
City leaders and the public through potentially improved safety services.
Privacy advocates, civil liberties groups, and residents concerned about government overreach fear potential harm through data misuse, profiling, and erosion of privacy rights.
The program launched in north Austin mid June, and La Cour said about 100 people have opted in so far.
After shooting spree, Austin City Council members reconsider license plate readers KUT
Austin City Council passes TRUST Act to regulate surveillance tech use KVUE
The development of public safety dashboards was discussed, which will provide data on police, fire, and EMS performance. This aims for greater transparency and accountability.
Texas DPS installs license plate reader cameras in Austin, months after city ended program KVUE
Austin ended its license plate reader program. Then the police department found a loophole. KUT
The city is considering a contract for mobile security cameras in parks, which has raised significant privacy and data security concerns. Residents and some council members worry about the potential misuse of AI-powered surveillance by private companies and government agencies.
New dashboards are being developed to give leaders better data on crime and emergency response times. This could lead to more informed decisions about resource allocation and public safety strategies.
Austin City Council set to discuss camera surveillance at parks KVUE
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