Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is pushing for new citywide rules governing how police and other city agencies use surveillance technology, including Flock automated license plate readers.
The proposed legislation would establish permanent standards for the use, oversight and management of public safety cameras and other surveillance tools. The plan comes after an Atlanta Police Department audit reviewed 115,578 Flock searches conducted this year, with 79 searches flagged for additional review. City officials emphasized that a flagged search does not automatically mean a policy violation occurred.
Under the proposal, Atlanta would create clearer requirements for who can access surveillance systems, when the technology can be used and what purposes are authorized. The legislation would also establish rules governing how information collected through these systems is protected, retained, deleted and shared.
The plan calls for monthly internal audits of high-risk law enforcement systems and quarterly public reporting on audit activity, findings and corrective actions. High-risk technologies would also undergo an annual independent compliance review.
Another part of the proposal focuses on vendor accountability. Contracts with Flock and other surveillance technology providers would have to incorporate the city’s requirements for privacy, security, access, data retention and data sharing. The city would also maintain a public inventory of covered surveillance technologies, subject to appropriate public safety and cybersecurity protections.
The legislation would establish additional review before Atlanta deploys new or significantly changed high-risk surveillance capabilities. The proposal also includes provisions prohibiting discriminatory or viewpoint-based use of covered technology, as well as personal, commercial or otherwise unauthorized use of city surveillance systems and data.
The proposed rules follow Dickens’ order for an internal review of Flock usage and come as communities across Georgia debate the balance between public safety, surveillance capabilities and privacy. The mayor has said Atlanta should maintain access to technology that can assist law enforcement while establishing clear accountability for how those tools are used.
The Atlanta City Council is expected to review the legislation through a work session, public hearing and committee process before any final action. The mayor’s administration has set a goal of completing Council consideration within 60 days of the legislation’s introduction.
For Atlanta residents, the proposed framework could establish more clearly defined rules around surveillance technology — from how cameras and license plate readers are accessed to how the resulting data is handled and monitored.
