Austin adopts stricter oversight of city surveillance technology use

Austin City Council enacted the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology (TRUST) Act in April 2026, requiring city departments to obtain council approval before deploying new surveillance tech, publish detailed civil-liberties impact reports four weeks before purchase, and disclose data collection, storage, and sharing practices. The ordinance covers drones, ALPRs, and camera systems, and follows the June 2025 decision to end Austin's contract with Flock Safety.