Discriminatory data: Why governments need to view digital privacy as an equity issue

Recent US privacy legislation has introduced robust privacy controls on the private sector but has tended to leave governments alone. Many public services require an exchange of privacy for safety and convenience, which can have a disproportionate impact on marginalised communities. This paper argues the need for governments to incorporate digital privacy into their equity strategies and shares the City of San José’s initial approach as a case study. The paper presents three elements through which digital privacy can have an impact on the equity implications of new surveillance technology: purpose, place and accuracy. It concludes that by integrating surveillance technology with privacy and prioritisation of racial equity, governments can create lasting technical systems that provide better, faster, and potentially more affordable services to all communities.