Existing Atlanta surveillance systems would avoid retrospective approval under held oversight plan

Atlanta's proposed surveillance rules would not require existing medium- and high-impact systems to undergo panel review or council reapproval solely because they were deployed before the rules took effect. Ordinance 26-O-1401 remains a proposal: the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee unanimously held it Sept. 28 for more information and review.

City entities would have 90 days after the rules took effect to inventory technologies they own, operate, use or access. Atlanta Information Management would classify them by review level. Existing medium- and high-impact technologies would need surveillance impact reports and written use policies within 180 days after classification, with those documents publicly posted to the extent allowed by law.

The exception would not permanently exempt existing systems from oversight. After the transition, they would be subject to reporting, auditing, compliance and data-governance requirements. Material modifications or expansions of a system or its use would trigger the applicable review.