Photo: Dennis Gakunga/Cities Today
Shaping privacy policy is ‘a marathon, not a sprint’, says Chula Vista leader
19 September 2023
by Sarah Wray
As Chula Vista, CA has adopted more technology such as sensors and drones as first responders, it is also bringing in data privacy safeguards.
Following recommendations from a taskforce convened by the city manager, the city adopted a Privacy Protection and Technology Transparency Policy last year. It prohibits unauthorised access to sensitive personal information, requires city staff to create use policies for certain systems, and creates a new acquisition process for surveillance technologies.
As part of the policy, Chula Vista is now in the process of establishing a commission, who will advise the City Council on how technology and data are used.
On the sidelines of the recent City Leadership Forum in Long Beach, Cities Today spoke to Dennis Gakunga, Chula Vista’s Chief Sustainability Officer, about the initiative.
The privacy policy partly came about following community questions about drones and concerns about the police department’s automated licence plate reader programme.
The establishment of the privacy policy and advisory commission also reflects a growing trend in other US cities.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Gakunga.
“The goal of our efforts around the formation of the policy and the establishment of the commission is really to build trust with our communities. As we continue to expand the use of technology and automate our processes, we have to make sure that how we maintain that data, how we protect that data, and who has access to that data is clearly spelled out.”
Challenges
Following some ordinance updates based on community feedback, the commission will consist of seven voting members and one non-voting member. Members are expected to have expertise in areas such as data security, privacy protection, public safety, accounting and finance, and equity and civil rights. They will meet at least once every two months until the end of 2024, and quarterly after that.
Gakunga said that this new approach to privacy brings “a lot of challenges, but there are more rewards than challenges”.
On what has been learned from the process so far, he commented: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You want to make sure that you take the time to engage and get the community support that is necessary, as well as all the various stakeholders.”
“That’s really what’s important,” he added. “Trying to make sure that this policy addresses the real concerns that do exist.”
