SF Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance (2019, first-in-nation)
San Francisco Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance — First U.S. City Government FR Ban (Admin. Code Ch. 19B)
San Francisco, CA · S.F. Ordinance No. 107-19 (2019); S.F. Admin. Code ch. 19B
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 15, 2019
- Applies to
- All City and County of San Francisco departments, including SFPD
- Enforced by
- Board of Supervisors / City Attorney; judicial enforcement
San Francisco became the first city in the United States to ban its own government — including police — from using facial recognition technology. The Board of Supervisors gave final passage 10-1 on June 4, 2019; the ordinance became law without the mayor's signature on June 14, 2019 and took effect July 15, 2019, codified at SF Admin. Code Chapter 19B. It also requires Board approval and public use policies before city departments acquire any other surveillance technology. Still in effect 2026 and the template for municipal facial-recognition bans nationwide.
Who is protected: San Francisco residents and visitors
Legal detail
Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance, Ord. No. 107-19 (File No. 190568, amendment-of-the-whole successor to File 190110; final passage 10-1 on June 4, 2019; enacted unsigned June 14, 2019; effective July 15, 2019), codified at SF Admin. Code Chapter 19B — prohibits city departments from obtaining, retaining, accessing, or using face surveillance technology or information derived from it; conditions other surveillance-technology acquisition on Board-approved use policies with surveillance impact reports. Ch. 19B.8 provides a cause of action for injunctive/declaratory relief. Modified by Proposition E (March 2024) for certain SFPD technology pilots; the facial-recognition ban itself stands.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Stronger |
| Enacted | June 14, 2019 |
| Citation | S.F. Ordinance No. 107-19 (2019); S.F. Admin. Code ch. 19B |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Injunctive and declaratory relief; attorney's fees for prevailing plaintiffs (Ch. 19B.8) |
| Topics | facial recognition · biometric data · police and surveillance AI · government use of AI · consumer data privacy |
| Statute | S.F. Ordinance No. 107-19 (enrolled) — Board of Supervisors |
More AI rules in San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco, CA — 45-day data center moratorium (approved Oct. 6, 2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- San Francisco ALPR privacy protections (Sept 2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- SFPD proposed DGO 10.12 drone policy (2026) · Proposed / pending
- SF Generative AI Guidelines · In effect
- San Francisco Unified School District · In effect
- Ordinance prohibiting sale or use of algorithmic devices to set rents… · In effect
Related facial recognition rules elsewhere
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Bristol VA PD facial recognition program (first VA local agency) · In effect
- Dallas PD Clearview AI facial recognition policy · In effect
- Ban biometric recognition in public accommodations (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Limit facial recognition in residential buildings (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Texas v. Google · In effect
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