Published by the Harvard Kennedy School, this critical analysis examines gaps in local surveillance oversight laws across the U.S. It identifies loopholes and enforcement challenges and offers recommendations for building more accountable and equitable frameworks.
In Everything Local Surveillance Laws Are Missing In One Post for the Harvard Kennedy School, I break down what local surveillance technology laws are doing—and more importantly, what they’re missing. Drawing on my research into smart city harms, I reviewed 16 oversight ordinances across the U.S. to assess how they define surveillance, who and what they cover, and how (if at all) they’re enforced.
The piece calls out major gaps, like loopholes for federal tools and private vendors and argues for stronger community protections, proactive equity review, and laws that prevent harm, not just track it.