The Chula Vista Privacy Protection and Technology Transparency Policy was adopted by the City Council in November 2022 to provide additional safeguards and oversight mechanisms for technologies that involve the collection, use and management of sensitive personal information.

The core elements of the Privacy Protection and Technology Transparency Policy include:

• Prohibiting the sale or unauthorized access to sensitive personal information.
• Requiring City staff to create written policies that limit access to certain technology systems, limit how those systems can be used, and specify how the system collects, manages and protects city data.
• Creating a special acquisition process for surveillance technologies that include enhanced oversight, community review and City Council approval.
• Studying the potential impacts of surveillance technologies, identifying specific measures to mitigate any impacts, and providing regular reports on how surveillance technologies have been used.
• Establishing a Council-appointed Privacy and Technology Advisory Commission.
• Ensuring City decisions are informed by both privacy experts and community members, including a community advisory commission.
• Providing additional training and resources to City staff to ensure they are equipped to recognize and manage potential data privacy issues.

The City is in the process of implementing the Privacy Protection and Technology Transparency Policy. A full copy of the Policy is available here.

The full staff report and supporting documents presented to City Council can be found with the agenda for the City Council meeting of Nov. 1, 2022.

The policy was developed with the support of the Technology & Privacy Advisory Task Force, a group of 12 Chula Vista residents and subject matter experts convened by the City Manager to develop a comprehensive set of policy recommendations. More information about the task force, including links to meeting agendas and minutes, can be found here.