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The City of Portland released its first report on surveillance technologies used by City bureaus, highlighting tools like cameras, drones, and social media monitoring. The findings advance transparency and will guide Phase II in 2025, which focuses on public engagement and open data.
Phase I Overview
The City of Portland has released its first-ever report on how City bureaus use surveillance technologies. Developed by the Smart City PDX program in collaboration with the Office of Equity and Human Rights, this report marks the beginning of a multi-phase effort to improve transparency and accountability in the City's use of technology.
The City of Portland's Surveillance Technologies Inventory Phase I Report fulfills City Council Resolution 37608, which directed the City to create a citywide inventory of surveillance tools and policies.
What the Report Found
Phase I provides a high-level look at the types of surveillance technologies used by City bureaus, who manages them, and for what purposes.
Key findings include:
- Eight bureaus reported using surveillance technologies.
- The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) manages about half of all reported tools.
- Cameras are the most common type of technology, followed by social media monitoring, geolocation services, and drones.
- Most tools are managed independently by bureaus, not centrally overseen.
- The most common uses are for law and code enforcement, security, and planning.
- Most technologies have been in use for more than five years.
Next Steps: Phase II
Phase II of the Surveillance Technologies Inventory will begin in Winter 2025.
This next phase will:
- Develop a standardized data framework for inventorying surveillance technologies;
- Deepen public engagement to ensure Portland's approach to technology aligns with community values.
Why This Matters
Portlanders have consistently asked for more information about how technology affects their privacy, safety, and civic life. This report helps answer those questions and sets the stage for a more transparent and equitable approach to managing technology in the City of Portland.
To bolster transparency and public access, the City is sharing the data collected during Phase I of the Surveillance Technologies Inventory. The downloadable Excel files below include bureau-reported information and visualizations about the types of surveillance technologies in use, their primary purposes, and management details.