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Libertas Institute supports this bill
Utah’s Truth in Taxation model is built on a simple idea: before government reaches into your wallet, it has to tell you why, and give you a chance to speak up.
The same principle should apply to surveillance technology. Whether it’s installing license plate readers, deploying facial recognition systems, or data-sharing networks across agencies, these technologies directly affect the right to privacy and freedom of movement.
House Bill 450 by Rep. David Shallenberger addresses those concerns.
This bill requires government entities to obtain legislative authorization before implementing high-risk surveillance activities and restructures privacy oversight through an expanded Utah Privacy Commission and new ombudsman office.
And Utah voters want this. In our new Libertas Institute/Overton Insights poll, 84% agree that government agencies should not deploy new surveillance tools without first hearing from the public. This poll also found that voters favor requiring the Legislature to review and approve new types of surveillance technology before agencies can use them, with 80% support statewide. Only 12% of voters oppose this idea.
Backing is strong across all political affiliations, reinforcing that checks and balances on government surveillance are common sense, not controversial.
Government surveillance should face meaningful oversight and citizens deserve strong protections for their personal information.
