2026-0857: Communication from Sylvia Harris, Acting Director of the Department of Innovation and Preference, submitting a Surveillance Technology Report, dated September 2, 2026.

Description

Communication from Sylvia Harris, Acting Director of the Department of Innovation and Preference, submitting a Surveillance Technology Report, dated September 2, 2026.

Summary

Pittsburgh City Council Resolution 2026-0287 requires the Department of Innovation and Performance to publish an inventory of surveillance technologies acquired, funded, or used by the City since January 2020. The report covers tools used by public safety, police, transportation, parks, inspections, public works, and other departments, including cameras, drones, license-plate readers, gunshot detection, traffic analytics, digital forensics, and robotics. It describes each system’s purpose, location, costs, policies, complaints, audits, and potential civil-rights impacts. Existing safeguards include warrants or court authority for certain police tools, public-camera regulations, and Ordinance 2020-0647’s restrictions on facial recognition and predictive policing. The inventory establishes a baseline for recurring public reporting and future oversight, while noting that policies and records will require continued refinement.