Durham City Council has passed a resolution establishing strict parameters for how the local police department collects, stores, and audits surveillance data. The decision follows the council's approval of a $16 million contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. for new police drones, cameras, and software. Under the measure, the city manager must integrate strict rules regarding privacy, encryption, and artificial intelligence into municipal operating policies. The resolution mandates council review for all future surveillance contracts and explicitly prohibits third-party vendors from using city data to train or improve artificial intelligence tools. Additionally, it bans the deployment of new automated licence plate reader systems without prior council approval and sets boundaries for body-worn cameras, camera drones, and the FUSUS intelligence platform.

Background: Police Drones and Aerial Surveillance

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