Law & order

Surveillance technology could come under board scrutiny if city measure passes

As more St. Louis neighborhoods seek to install surveillance cameras for the sake of public safety and crime prevention, some residents are concerned about protecting privacy.

Members of Privacy Watch STL and the ACLU are supporting a city proposal sponsored by Alderman Terry Kennedy, 18th Ward, that would require city entities to publicly present plans to the Board of Alderman outlining the acquisition, use and funding of surveillance technology.

Privacy Watch began working with the ACLU last year to address the use of street cameras 

Under Board Bill 66 introduced June 16, street cameras, body cameras, automatic license plate readers and biometric surveillance technology, including facial and voice recognition programs, would receive public scrutiny before board approval.

Technologies that have been used in St. Louis in the past include a cellphone tracking device, license plate readers, and a gunshot tracker called “ShotSpotter.”