Who owns YorkSafeNet? As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization we are not owned by any individual or organization, including founders or individual board members. Instead, we are managed by a board of directors that makes important decisions and oversees our work for the benefit of the public. All funding and property must be used to support the organization’s mission.
What types of cameras will be used? The network is still in early planning phase so we have only looked at equipment for the sake of cost estimates.
Will facial recognition be used? No. Our policies specifically prohibit the use of facial recognition functionality.
Will biometric information be stored? No, we are intentionally not collecting unique biometric data like facial recognition, fingerprints, etc.
What will the cameras be used to record? Generally, cameras will be used when a crime has been committed and there is an ongoing investigation. They may also be used in cases when a person is missing.
Will the cameras be used to look into homes or private property? No. Cameras located near residences would be digitally masked so that black boxes appear over a home’s windows when the camera is turned in that direction. Only a monitoring supervisor and the executive director would be authorized to access or modify this software and if changing this functionality, they would follow a process disclosed to the public.
How does the public hold a nonprofit accountable? Our board is committed to representing the public and has been chosen to incorporate diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We will hold an annual public feedback forum and have a formal complaint process. Additionally, we are a member nonprofit whose members will likely include city and county government as major stakeholders. This allows the public to approach their elected officials with concerns. Those officials then have the power and leverage that can be exerted on our board because of their key partnership stake in the nonprofit.
Who has access to the cameras and footage? Our monitoring team will consist of trained staff with clearences and background checks and who have signed confidentiality agreements. Working in accordance with our policies, staff will operate the camera network and work in cooperation (as is legally appropriate) with law enforcement. There will be no private or corporate access to the camera network.
How long is the footage retained? We are committed to not retaining footage past 30 days. Usually, it will be retained for seven days to save on storage.
Can the public request access to footage, and how will those requests be handled? There will be a process by which the public may request access to the camera footage. Access will be granted when required by a legal proceeding or in special circumstances when the board deems it in the best interest of the community. Personal or corporate use of the camera network will not be approved.
Do the police have unrestricted access to the cameras? No. Police must also abide by the policies of the camera network showing that they have a legal rationale for each request they make. Police also will not control the operational policies of the network allowing for it to be used as an accountability mechanism for law enforcement.
Will state or federal agencies have access to the cameras? Only when a valid legal justification is present. Our primary mission is to serve the local community.
Will police be able to access the cameras remotely or get access to the monitoring room? Police will have restricted access to the network through the staff of the network. They may at times visit the monitoring station but will not have unlimited remote access to footage.
Is there a log of what footage has been requested by police and when it was accessed? Yes, a log will be kept of all requests, as well as when and why access is given. This log will be made publicly available periodically.
Will you have a community advisory board? Yes, we do plan to have a community advisory board. Our board of directors also serves to provide community representation as well as the member entities of our non-profit. We also will hold annual public forums where the community may provide direct feedback.
How will the public be notified that a camera has been moved or that new cameras have been installed? Maps of camera locations kept in live time will be published on our website and available to the public.
Will SafeNet undergo an independent audit? Yes. We are committed to ongoing independant audits of our camera placement, use of technology capabilities, and any of our other practices or policies.