Milton Council Advances Safeguards for AI Surveillance
Milton City Council gave first reading to an ordinance creating oversight, transparency, and accountability rules for any future surveillance technology. Mayor Shane Evans said he lacks confidence in AI surveillance and does not want the city to adopt systems like Flock Safety cameras now. A final reading is set for Nov. 10; the measure would require public hearings, data reporting, and a use policy.
Milton’s proposal would require council approval and a public hearing before officials pursue funding, obtain, expand, or share surveillance systems. It also mandates a publicly available use policy and yearly reports for each technology, with council reviewing whether approval standards are met. Covered tools would include license plate scanning, biometric tools, gunshot sensors, location tracking equipment and services, and video cameras.
The ordinance lists exceptions for cameras in police vehicles, emergency audio capture, utility meters used for billing, and cameras worn by officers. Council first backed an ordinance targeting Flock Safety or similar AI cameras in August. A final vote is scheduled for Nov. 10.
If enacted, Milton’s measure could give residents more opportunities to review proposed surveillance tools before deployment, while requiring officials to document how data is used. Local agencies and vendors might face added procedural steps, including hearings, use policies, and annual reporting. Because the city is not currently adopting such technology, near-term effects may be limited, though the ordinance could shape future decisions and offer a possible example for other municipalities.