Exceptions.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 41.130
in effect41.130. - Exceptions.
(a) Nothing in this article shall prevent the city from:
(1) Acquiring, obtaining, retaining, or accessing facial recognition technology on an electronic device intended for a single user, such as a cellular phone or tablet, when the facial recognition technology is used solely for the purpose of user authentication;
(2) Acquiring, obtaining, retaining, or accessing social media or communications software or applications intended for communication with the general public that include facial recognition technology, as long as the city does not intentionally use the facial recognition technology;
(3) Acquiring, obtaining, retaining, or accessing facial recognition technology solely for the purpose of using automated or semiautomated redaction software;
(4) Having custody or control of electronic devices that include facial recognition technology when such electronic devices are held by the city solely for evidentiary purposes;
(5) Acquiring, obtaining, retaining, or accessing facial recognition technology, or using information obtained from facial recognition technology, solely for the purpose of controlling city employee access to or providing security for city workplaces that are not open to the public, provided that employees shall be permitted to opt out of using such technology to access the workplace.
(b) It shall not be a violation of this article for the city to acquire, obtain, or retain facial recognition technology under the following conditions:
(1) The facial recognition technology is an integrated, off the shelf capability, bundled with software or stored on a product or device; and
(2) Other functions of the software, product, or device are necessary or beneficial to the performance of city functions; and
(3) The software, product, or device is not acquired for the purpose of performing facial recognition; and
(4) The facial recognition technology cannot be deleted from the software, product, or device; and
(5) The city does not use the facial recognition technology; and
(6) The city department seeking to acquire the software, product, or device discloses the integrated, off the shelf facial recognition technology that cannot be deleted to the city council when seeking to acquire the software, product, or device.
(c) Recognizing that changes in technology and circumstances may require additional exceptions to the requirements of this article, the city council may permit additional exceptions to the requirements of this article, under the following conditions:
(1) Any city department that requests an exception to the requirements of this article shall include in its request to the council an explanation of the need for an exception, a description of how the technology or information will be used, and a plan for monitoring the technology or information to ensure that its use remains within the approved parameters.
(2) The council shall hold a public hearing on any proposed exception to the requirements of this article.
(3) The council may approve the proposed exception if it finds that the exception is consistent with the stated goals of preventing discrimination and promoting privacy, transparency, and public trust. The council may require revisions to the proposed plan for monitoring the technology or information as a condition of approval.
(4) The department that has obtained the exception shall annually submit a summary of its uses of the technology or information to the city clerk. This summary shall not include personally identifiable information or information that is not public pursuant to Minnesota Statute Chap. 13. The summary shall be included in the annual report required by section 41.180. (Ord. No. 2021-006, § 2, 2-12-21)
Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT2AD_CH41INGO_ARTIIFARETE_41.130EXFetched: 11/2/2026