I support technology that helps government work better and gives law enforcement the tools they need to keep our communities safe. But public safety should not mean tracking everyone, everywhere, all the time. Privacy and civil rights matter, and government has a responsibility to protect them as technology becomes more powerful.
When we connect license plate readers, law enforcement records, cameras, artificial intelligence, and other information, we create something much more powerful than any one system on its own. That is why I raised concerns about Peregrine and why I believe we need to look carefully at technologies like Flock cameras.
The question is not simply whether a technology can help public safety. We also need to understand what information is being collected, who can access it, where it goes, how long it is kept, and what other systems it can connect to. We also need to ask what happens as these systems grow and change over time.
That is why I pulled the Peregrine contract from the consent calendar in 2026. I felt a proposal involving this much data and technology deserved a broader public discussion about public safety, privacy, and the safeguards we need.
One important result of that discussion was the development of a new Marin Countywide Data Policy. The policy gives us a stronger starting point for protecting sensitive information. It requires additional review for higher-risk data sharing, establishes Technology Investment Board oversight in appropriate cases, and includes an audit process to make sure projects follow their contracts and conditions of approval.
Now we need to build on that work as technology continues to change. We should regularly look at how these tools are actually being used: who has access, how information is shared, whether new systems have been connected, and whether the technology is still being used for the purpose we originally approved. That becomes even more important as separate systems become connected to one another.
The goal should be targeted and responsible use of technology for real public safety needs—not creating a system that can track the everyday movements of people who are not suspected of wrongdoing. Regular review and strong safeguards can help us catch problems early while giving staff, law enforcement, and the public confidence in how these tools are being used.
I believe Marin can have both effective public safety and strong civil liberties. We can give law enforcement appropriate tools while also setting clear boundaries, protecting privacy and civil rights, and making sure there is meaningful oversight after technology is put in place.
As technology becomes more powerful and more connected, our safeguards and accountability need to keep pace.
PRESS
Marin supervisors leery of law enforcement data sharing contract, Marin Independent Journal, May 23, 2026
Supervisor Dennis Rodoni expressed concern about the contractor, Peregrine Technologies, and asked that the $1.5M contract be pulled off the consent calendar Tuesday to allow further discussion and public engagement.
Editorial: Let’s see safeguards before approving Marin law enforcement tech, Marin Independent Journal, Editorial Board, May 30, 2026
Marin County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni was right in his request that a contract be pulled from the board’s routine matters listed on its agenda’s “Consent Calendar” for deeper review. The concern raised by Rodoni and other board members is over a $1.5 million contract with Peregrine Technologies for use of its high-tech criminal investigation network, its use of artificial intelligence and the spread of information about local residents.