surveillance

Salt Lake City Announces Public Comment on Proposed Automated License Plate Recognition Ordinance

The bigger question to consider, especially as technology advances, is whether we want to live in a surveillance state at all. Our civil liberties should not change just because technology evolves and law enforcement has new tools.

Emily Grimmius
| 2nd Sep 2026

2024 Bills

HB 491: Raising the Privacy Bar for Government Entities

HB 491 creates a Privacy Ombudsman, elevates the Personal Privacy Oversight Committee (renaming it the Utah Privacy Commission), brings teeth with a Utah Privacy Governing Board that includes important elected officials, and moves government entities to not only comply with the laws that already exist, but raise the standards by 2027.

Libertas Institute Staff
| 26th Feb 2024

2024 Bills

HB 553: Prohibiting Reverse Keyword Surveillance by Law Enforcement

HB 553 proposes to restrict reverse-keyword searches, thus backing the liberties of Utah's citizens while still empowering law enforcement to fulfill their responsibilities by codifying a keyword search that has the backing of probable cause, including particularized suspicion of an individual or device.

Libertas Institute Staff
| 21st Feb 2024

2024 Bills

SB 231: Enhancing Privacy Against Government Surveillance

This bill sets clear definitions and restrictions on government agencies' use of surveillance. It also provides sensible exemptions and technical adjustments to ensure that the law keeps pace with technological advancements.

Libertas Institute Staff
| 15th Feb 2024

Privacy

Montana Tackles Facial Recognition

Fortunately, there are state lawmakers who are diligently working to erect digital safeguards to protect citizens from undue intrusion by government agencies.