The policy making process will explore the impacts of surveillance technologies on civil and digital rights and liberties. How surveillance technologies impact access to economic opportunities, safety, and other social benefits will also be discussed.
View the plan:
About the process
This policy development process is a collaboration between the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Smart City PDX program, the Office of Equity and Human Rights, and community groups involved in digital justice issues in Portland.
Public engagement for the development of this policy started on June 21, 2021. Twenty three community members from a diverse set of organizations attended this kickoff event.
The event included a presentation of initial ideas about how to engage the public in conversations about surveillance technologies. Many attendees have been part of previous work on privacy and face recognition. This kickoff meeting tried to identify the local interest in surveillance technologies.
Participants broke out into small groups to discuss specific questions about how to do equitable engagement work around the topic of surveillance technology. We used a collaborative whiteboard to compile comments from attendees. The whiteboard was also left open for two weeks after the event for participants to add feedback.
What did we ask?
Our City team wanted to get early feedback and guidance on the how, who, and what of the surveillance technologies policymaking process.
These questions were divided in three sections:
Questions about shared definitions. How would you define key concepts for this policy? Digital justice, digital rights and surveillance technologies.
Questions about the public engagement approach and participatory process. Who should participate? Who has been missing? How can we best maintain transparency and accountability?
Questions about engagement goals. Do they resonate with you? What’s missing?
What did attendees answer?
How would you define these key concepts? "Digital Justice & Digital Rights"
People over profits. Definitions should focus on marginalized communities - particularly focusing on individuals. These concepts should also include community interests and needs, and corporate interests last.
Informed consent and agency to participate. Communities need agency and control over the development of policies that govern data. Communities need agency to understand and opt in/out of surveillance without penalty. Gathering and use of personal data only with informed permission and consent. Privacy is a human right.
Transparent communication of intent and impacts. Definitions should be accessible and understandable by all community members. They need to articulate how the government uses data and for whose benefit. Data should help improve marginalized communities.
How would you define these key concepts? "Surveillance Technologies"
A mechanism for safety, but for whom? There is community mistrust and skepticism about surveillance technologies. The concern is that they will perpetuate social inequities. Surveillance has disproportionate negative impacts against marginalized people. Harmed communities include Black and Brown people, those who don't have personal devices, people with significant mental health issues, and/or experiencing homelessness.
An extraction of wealth (data) without meaningful consent. Surveillance technologies must provide clear documentation of their purpose in the community. Transparency should include how surveillance collects and uses information. Community needs to understand the benefits to them vs private industry. Surveillance needs to include safeguards and proper oversight for data collection.
The full collaborative whiteboard is here.
Final comments and next steps
The response to this call was more than we had expected. We were inspired to listen and learn from many. Your participation demonstrates the interest of our communities on issues like privacy and surveillance.
These comments have helped us to structure a better flow of public engagement. Public events will be open and inclusive. Our team will provide information about future topics for more informed discussions.
The engagement plan includes future events for information sharing, co-design and participatory policymaking.
The next steps for public participation include:
Release and share the public engagement plan (September)
Release digital literacy materials (through Fall)
Co-design and participatory policymaking events (Fall 2021)
Events will be co-organized by the Smart City PDX team and the Office of Equity and Human Rights. The city is working with Cascadia Partners for the support and preparation of events and general coordination.
Please send your comments to us via email to smartcitypdx@portlandoregon.gov.