As my tenure in public office draws to a close, I have begun reflecting on the pivotal moments that have defined my commitment to serving the diverse communities of Baltimore. Over nearly eight years, I have dedicated my efforts to passing meaningful legislation, striving to enhance the lives of all our residents. Yet I am disheartened to recount that the two bills I introduced to safeguard our community’s privacy were met with staunch resistance from members of the Baltimore City Council. Ironically, both bills sought to protect the very citizens we are sworn to serve from the invasive clutches of mass surveillance technology.
This information is not just collected; it is bought, sold, and weaponized against the unsuspecting public, often without their knowledge. The implications are staggering, particularly for our Black and brown communities, which have historically borne the brunt of surveillance abuse.
On October 20, 2020, the City Council voted “unfavorable” on a crucial measure to limit biometric data collection — data that includes facial characteristics obtained without meaningful consent. This information is not just collected; it is bought, sold, and weaponized against the unsuspecting public, often without their knowledge. The implications are staggering, particularly for our Black and brown communities, which have historically borne the brunt of surveillance abuse.
The Public Safety and Government Operations Committee recently voted “unfavorable” on CB 23-0377, a bill designed to provide transparency in how our city surveils its residents. From watching a game at the ballpark to enjoying dinner with family, our everyday movements are captured by an intricate web of CCTV cameras, license plate readers, and even innocuous doorbell cameras that feed data to law enforcement. This is not just a matter of privacy; it’s about the erosion of our civil liberties.
Throughout history, surveillance technologies have been wielded as tools of oppression, disproportionately targeting communities defined by race, ethnicity, religion, income, sexual orientation, and political beliefs. The refusal to enact CB 23-0377 is a stark reminder that the status quo often prioritizes control over community trust, creating a chilling effect on the very fabric of our society.
This proposed legislation was more than just an administrative formality. It aimed to establish an 11-member citizen-led Commission on Surveillance comprised of experts in civil rights, ethics, and community representation. This body would have produced an annual Community Equity Impact Assessment to examine how surveillance technology impacts our neighborhoods. It would have given voice to the very communities at risk of being marginalized, ensuring accountability in how data is collected and used.
By rejecting this bill, we have missed an opportunity to become a national leader in civil rights protection, fostering an environment where safety and privacy coexist. Instead, we risk perpetuating a system where the rights of police are given priority, and surveillance operates unchecked, normalizing the invasion of privacy that so many of us find unacceptable. This is particularly concerning as the incoming Trump administration’s desired political priorities suggest a future with even less oversight and accountability for abuses and overstepping of civil liberties by government entities.
I am profoundly grateful to the advocates who tirelessly collaborated with me to craft these bills, to my dedicated staff for their unwavering support, and to those council members who understood the gravity of this issue. To those who voted for transparency and accountability, your courage to stand for the civil liberties of all Baltimoreans has not gone unnoticed.
As I step away from public office, I implore my colleagues, community leaders, and residents of Baltimore to recognize the grave consequences of inaction and to heed a warning. The unchecked expansion of surveillance technology is not a distant threat — it is here, and it is eroding the freedoms and dignity we should all hold dear. Without immediate accountability and safeguards, we risk normalizing a society where every movement, every interaction, and every choice is subject to unwarranted scrutiny.
Baltimore must act now to create a system that prioritizes equity and transparency over control. Establishing a citizen-led commission on surveillance empowers the people of Baltimore to hold those in power accountable, ensuring that our civil liberties are not compromised in the name of security. Failing to act sends a message that we are willing to accept the erosion of our freedoms as inevitable.
Kristerfer Burnett, a lifelong Baltimorean, represents the eighth City Council District, serving over 40,000 residents. Elected in 2016, he has chaired and served on multiple committees, including Chair of the Health, Legislative Investigations Committees. Re-elected in 2020, he continues to serve on various nonprofit boards and City Council committees. Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Baltimore City Human Trafficking Collaborative, Burnett also serves on the National Board of Directors of Local Progress. Educated in Baltimore’s public schools. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland-College Park and UMBC. He is dedicated to advocating for structural reforms and empowering Baltimore’s residents.
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