BANNING USE OF FACE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
Madison General Ordinances § 23.64
in effect23.64 - BANNING USE OF FACE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
(1) Definitions.
Department means any agency, department, or division of the City.
Face surveillance means an automated or semi-automated process that assists in identifying or verifying an individual based on the physical characteristics of an individual's face.
Face surveillance system means any computer software or application that performs face surveillance.
(2) All Departments are not permitted to obtain, retain, possess, access or use any face surveillance system.
(3) All Departments are not permitted to obtain, retain, possess, access or use any information derived from a face surveillance system.
(4) Exemptions. This Section does not apply to the following:
(a) Using information that may have been generated from a face surveillance system, so long as such information was not generated by or at the request of any Department, though a Department may request information specifically to identify and/or locate individuals who are victims of human trafficking, child sexual exploitation or missing children.
(b) Obtaining or possessing an electronic device, such as a cell phone or tablet, that performs face surveillance for the sole purpose of user authentication.
(c) Using face recognition on an electronic device, such as a cell phone or table, for the sole purpose of user authentication.
(d) Using social media or communication software or application for communicating with the public, provided such use does not include the affirmative use of any face surveillance.
(e) Using automated redaction software, provided such software does not have the capability of performing face surveillance.
(f) Comply with the National Child Search Assistance Act.
(Cr. by ORD-20-00117, 12-14-20)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH23OFAGPUPO_23.64BAUSFASUTEFetched: 11/1/2026