Berkeley CA "The Berkeley Rule" AI Policy (2026)
City of Berkeley — "The Berkeley Rule" and AI Use Framework for City Government (2026)
Berkeley, CA · City of Berkeley, "The Berkeley Rule" and AI Use Framework for City Government (City Council action March 10, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- March 10, 2026
- Applies to
- City of Berkeley departments, employees, and contractors using AI in city operations
- Enforced by
- Berkeley City Manager; Berkeley City Council
On March 10, 2026, the Berkeley City Council adopted "The Berkeley Rule" — a ten-principle framework authored by Councilmember Ben Bartlett to guide ethical, human-centered use of AI in all city operations. Companion AI guidelines from Councilmember Shoshana O'Keefe require departments to apply bias safeguards, maintain data privacy compliance, and ensure human oversight of automated decisions before deployment. The City Manager's office subsequently drafted a formal AI Administrative Regulation implementing these principles.
Who is protected: Berkeley residents and visitors interacting with city AI systems
Legal detail
Berkeley City Council action (March 10, 2026): adopted (1) "The Berkeley Rule" — a 10-principle framework governing municipal AI use, covering transparency, fairness, accountability, human oversight, privacy protection, community benefit, and equitable access — authored by District 3 Councilmember Ben Bartlett; and (2) companion AI use guidelines by District 5 Councilmember Shoshana O'Keefe requiring departmental AI use to satisfy bias-safeguard, data-privacy-compliance, and human-oversight requirements prior to deployment. City Manager's office directed to draft implementing AI Administrative Regulation.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Berkeley, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | March 10, 2026 |
| Citation | City of Berkeley, "The Berkeley Rule" and AI Use Framework for City Government (City Council action March 10, 2026) |
| Topics | government use of AI · automated decision-making · AI disclosure and transparency · consumer data privacy |
| Agency page | The Berkeley Rule — Artificial Intelligence Municipal Framework (Berkeley City Council, March 10, 2026) |
More AI rules in Berkeley, CA
- Berkeley Government FR Ban (2019) · In effect
- Ordinance prohibiting use of algorithmic rent-setting devices · Proposed / pending
Related government use of AI rules elsewhere
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Arkansas public entity AI/ADS policy mandate (Act 848, 2025) · In effect
- Inver Grove Heights MN data center moratorium amended under lawsuit (2026) · In effect
- FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform tariffs on… · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendment) · In effect
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