Austin Council Passes TRUST Act Allowing Plate Readers After 12 Shootings, Banning Facial Recognition
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 19
Austin Council Passes TRUST Act Allowing Plate Readers After 12 Shootings, Banning Facial Recognition
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 19
Austin approved the TRUST Act after a nearly 24-hour shooting rampage involving 12 separate shootings injured four people and ended with three teenage suspects in custody.
The measure creates a framework for using license plate readers, requiring City Council approval plus disclosure of how data is collected and stored, while explicitly banning facial-recognition technology.
Mayor Kirk Watson said the weekend attacks highlighted the value of plate readers and that the city should now move ahead with tools that help police while balancing resident privacy.
Retired officer Dennis Farris said Austin had been "handcuffed" after dropping Flock cameras last year, arguing similar technology in nearby Manor helped authorities catch one suspect.
Can Austin restore police surveillance tools without sacrificing the privacy and civil liberties of its residents?
Is a lack of surveillance the real problem behind the teen rampage, or a symptom of deeper societal failures?