SAN DIEGO — Privacy advocates have filed a lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court against the city of San Diego and its police department for violating an ordinance regulating the use of mass surveillance equipment. The lawsuit claims that the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) deployed surveillance technologies without proper approval, violating the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology (TRUST) Ordinance.
Plaintiffs Lilly Irani, Seth Hall, and Mat Wahlstrom assert that the SDPD used surveillance tools such as Smart Streetlights and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) at high-profile events in 2024, including the Pride Parade and Comic-Con without disclosing their use locations in approved Surveillance Use Policy.
The lawsuit alleges that the city's implementation of surveillance technologies violated the TRUST Ordinance, which was enacted in 2022. The ordinance requires public discussion and approval from the city council before implementing surveillance technologies, and the city failed to comply with these requirements.
"By failing to follow their legal requirements, the City of San Diego has violated the ordinance and eroded public trust," said attorney Geneviéve Jones-Wright, who filed the complaint alongside Cory Briggs.
Added Jones-Wright, "The TRUST Ordinance was enacted to protect the public’s right to privacy and ensure accountability in using surveillance technologies.”
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and statutory damages for the unauthorized use of surveillance technology. The plaintiffs are asking the court to mandate full compliance with the TRUST Ordinance, including requiring SDPD to halt the use of these technologies until proper procedures are followed.
This lawsuit comes amid growing concerns about law enforcement agencies' use of surveillance technologies.
It also comes as San Diego Police and neighboring jurisdictions tout the benefits of street light cameras and automated license plate readers in assisting in several high-profile cases.
CBS 8 contacted the city of San Diego for comment. When the city responds, this article will be updated.
