Atlanta proposed surveillance technology ordinance (2026)
Atlanta, Georgia — Mayor Dickens' Proposed Surveillance Technology Ordinance Governing Flock License Plate Readers and Other Tools (Introduced September 2026)
Atlanta, GA · City of Atlanta, proposed surveillance technology ordinance (Mayor Dickens, introduced Sept. 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Atlanta Police Department and city departments using surveillance technology; surveillance technology vendors
- Enforced by
- City of Atlanta; proposed surveillance technology review panel
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens introduced legislation at the City Council on September 21, 2026 to set citywide rules for surveillance technology such as Flock license plate reader cameras. It would require written policies on authorized and prohibited uses, access and training; rules for collecting, protecting, retaining, deleting and sharing data; monthly internal audits and quarterly public reporting for high-risk police systems; and an annual independent compliance review. It would also create a seven-member review panel, set procedures for misuse allegations and bar vendors from selling the data. The proposal followed an audit in which police flagged 79 of 115,578 Flock searches for further review.
Who is protected: Atlanta residents subject to city surveillance technology
Legal detail
Mayoral legislation introduced at the Atlanta City Council meeting Monday Sept. 21, 2026 (Spectrum News Sept. 23: 'introduced legislation Monday'; FOX 5 Sept. 15: administration to introduce at the Sept. 21 meeting; Sept. 21, 2026 is a Monday). Council agreed to review it (Spectrum). Administration seeks a work session and public hearing, goal of final consideration within 60 days of introduction (FOX 5). Provisions reported: written authorized/prohibited-use policies, access and training requirements (FOX 5); data collection, protection, retention, deletion and sharing rules (FOX 5); monthly internal audits and quarterly public reporting for high-risk law-enforcement systems; annual independent compliance review (FOX 5); vendor contracts (Flock etc.) to incorporate requirements (FOX 5, truncated); seven-member review panel, misuse-allegation procedures, vendor data-sale ban (AJC Sept. 22); Atlanta Information Management responsible for oversight, risk-based review of new applications (Spectrum). Update of legislation drafted by Councilman Jason Dozier in June 2026 (AJC). Trigger: audit of 115,578 APD Flock searches, 79 search patterns (~0.07%) flagged for internal review (FOX 5). NOT ESTABLISHED: legislation number, committee referral, specific retention periods, vote date.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | City of Atlanta, proposed surveillance technology ordinance (Mayor Dickens, introduced Sept. 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated |
| Topics | police and surveillance AI · consumer data privacy · AI disclosure and transparency · data retention |
| News report | Atlanta mayor proposes new rules for Flock, surveillance tools — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
More AI rules in Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta Beltline/MARTA Data Center Ban · In effect
Related police and surveillance AI rules elsewhere
- NAACP v. xAI (Colossus 2 Air Pollution) · Blocked / in litigation
- Chatrie v. United States (Fourth Amendment protection for location… · Blocked / in litigation
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Huntington WV Flock contract approved 6-4 (Jul. 14, 2026) · In effect
- ACLU-WV v. Huntington (Flock contract mandamus) · Blocked / in litigation
- Minneapolis rejects Skydio DFR contract 6-6 (Jul. 16, 2026) · In effect
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