Overview
Robust privacy and information protection are cornerstones for building trust across organizations and people. Building this trust is at the center of the City of Portland Privacy and Information Protection Principles. The principles provide guidelines for protecting private and sensitive data managed by the City of Portland or those working on behalf of the City of Portland.
Motivation
The City of Portland collects and manages data that may put communities, individuals or sensitive assets at risk. Making the City a more trusted steward of the public’s data is a priority of Smart City PDX. Local governments must also plan for emergent information technologies used to better understand and improve government services.
Providing equitable services related to data collection and information use is also essential. Marginalized communities can be more vulnerable to misuse of data. These risks highlight the importance of safeguards that guide City practices.
Development
Smart City PDX, Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office and the Office of Equity and Human Rights led the development of the Privacy Principles. The process was a citywide effort that incorporated feedback from over thirty City agencies. It also included two public forums where community members voiced priorities and feedback
Content
The seven principles focus on:
Transparency and accountability
Full lifecycle stewardship
Equitable data management
Ethical and non-discriminatory use of data
Data openness
Automated Decision Systems
Data Utility
The Privacy and Information Protection Principles were adopted on June 19, 2019. All five Portland City Council members co-sponsored the principles.
The City’s surveillance technologies policy passed on February 1 and directs BPS’s Smart City PDX program to create a citywide inventory of surveillance technologies and implement privacy impact assessments in procurement.