On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be considering a private camera policy for the SFPD that lets them commandeer private cameras (including networks owned by business improvement districts and private businesses as well as residential Ring cameras) for any 24 hour period of time to live monitor a physical location.
The policy authorizes a 1-year pilot for any suspicion of a crime, even minor misdemeanors, and also for any large crowded event, including community cultural events like Carnaval and Pride and protests, rallies and demonstrations.
The majority of the public comment at 4 different Rules committee hearings was opposed to live monitoring (instead of requesting private camera footage AFTER a crime has occurred), but despite the community opposition, the policy was forwarded to the full Board with live monitoring included.
There is no public comment on Tuesday, so please take a minute to email the board to express your support for removing live monitoring from the policy or at least removing the authorization to live monitor large public gatherings.
Amendments will be introduced IF there is enough support for them, so raising your voice before Tuesday at 2pm is crucial. We all attend events in San Francisco, so no matter where you live, this impacts YOU.