June 4, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

SMa.r.t.- Our Data, Our Privacy, Part 2

By Daniel Jansenson 

 

Last week we looked at how our lives are made more convenient all the time by companies and organizations that provide services and then gather data about our activities. We mentioned that in the past, private businesses and government gathered information separately. Today we’re beginning to see pressure to combine these public and private efforts, the beginnings of a sort of cooperation.

It is unclear what specific information is gathered by the City, what is done with it, who it is shared with and how safely it is being guarded by those to whom we entrust our safety. There is no Department of Data Transparency at City Hall.

Now, this is not to suggest that in real life our city government assembles information with bad intentions – far from it. We all navigate within powerful streams of data, information that the City can use to improve our lives and do its job better. Santa Monica’s City Manager wrote a couple of years ago that “the greatest potential benefit to residents is to better utilize data to improve our quality of life by making government far more effective in the 21st Century.” Data is neither benign nor malicious; it is neutral. But how this information is used is critically important. There are already controversies among some residents about how the City’s Wellbeing Project and Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) obtain and use information about residents. This trend will continue.

There is little we can do to control what private companies do with our information, other than refuse their services or products, but it’s a different matter where it pertains to the City. Here, there is a great deal we can do to protect information about us that is obtained, used and stored by the City. We can take our cue from Europe which is way ahead of the U.S. on this problem.

The European Union has created a strong set of rules to protect the data privacy of individuals. The rules control how data is obtained, when it can be processed, who is accountable for its safety, and the privacy rights of citizens. The basic principle is that privacy should be available by design, and by default. Consumers cannot be denied a service because they refuse to allow collection of unnecessary data and, importantly, a citizen whose privacy rights have been violated by the city has a right to compensation. Cities in Europe, such as Dublin, Ireland have adopted these standards and put them into effect. It’s worth reading Dublin’s concise presentation of the rules, here: https://tinyurl.com/y94uaame

Dublin can do it, why not Santa Monica? We need safeguards in place to protect personal data compiled by the City. We also need some kind of oversight by a third party to make sure the data is used with care and only when necessary. A few critical steps should be considered by our City Council:

  1. Create a “Privacy Czar” at City Hall with express responsibility for citizens’ privacy rights. In effect, a Chief Data-Protection Officer.
  2. Identify “choke” points in the system where data is obtained. Establish “privacy champions” who will act to preserve and protect data in those departments. Examples include housing, finance planning and development and transportation.
  3. Create a public commission of citizens to oversee satisfactory performance by the city on data privacy matters.
  4. Incorporate these rules into an amendment of the City Charter. Make sure that data privacy protection becomes embedded deeply within the city government’s structure and properly implemented.

We are still early in the era of the Data Tsunami, but not so early that we should ignore the warnings that became so plainly clear in the last elections. There are many good reasons for the City to compile information about its residents and citizens. But there should be safeguards in place to make sure the data is secure and used appropriately by the City. A few years ago few would have blinked at the idea of a parking garage that reads license plates, but now we’ve seen the scandals that result from improper use of data. That’s why it is so important to introduce safeguards wherever we can – before it is too late.

We rely on the City to protect us in many different ways. The City’s fundamental obligation is to use data responsibly, and protect our data privacy. Let’s take the right steps to make that happen today.

Hacker
Photo: Thinkstock

 

 

 

 

SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) Daniel Jansenson Architect, Building and Fire Life-Safety Commissioner, Samuel Tolkin Architect, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Ron Goldman FAIA, Thane Roberts AIA, Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA, Planning Commissioner, Phil Brock, Arts Commissioner.

Related Posts

A Season of Gratitude: After One Year in Business, Urban Jungle Continues Making its Mark

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Over the last year, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery, has continued its mission to cultivate a place...

The soul’s greatest hits

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

From ‘Ave Maria’ to ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and ‘Ode to Joy,” a Santa Monica concert raising funds to help fire victims...

LAPD Increases Security at Jewish Sites Following Colorado Flamethrower Attack

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Officials Ramp Up Patrols and Plan Emergency Response as Shavuot Concludes. Security outside Jewish institutions in Los Angeles has been...

The Peabody Awards Celebrate Bold Storytelling and Social Impact at Beverly Hills Gala

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Honorees Including Baby Reindeer, Shōgun, and The Only Doctor at In-Person Ceremony The Peabody Awards held their awards ceremony Sunday...

Chamber Music Palisades Presents an Afternoon of Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, and More

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Brentwood Hosts Free Classical Concert with LA Philharmonic Greats Chamber Music Palisades will present a free community concert on Saturday,...

Massive Fire Engulfs Auto Shop, Shuts Down 10 Freeway Eastbound Lanes

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Explosions, Thick Smoke, and Downed Power Lines Disrupt Traffic in Palms A fast-moving fire broke out Sunday behind a commercial...

Alpine Floor & Home: A Legacy of Quality Since 1968

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Founded in 1968 with a single location, Alpine Floor & Home began as a humble family business with a clear...

Chin Chin to Close West Hollywood Location After 45 Years of Service

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Iconic Sunset Plaza Restaurant Announces Final Day of Operations Chin Chin, the iconic Chinese eatery that has been a fixture...

LACMA’s $700M David Geffen Galleries to Open in 2026

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

New Structure Will Replace Original Midcentury Buildings Construction crews are entering the final stretch on the David Geffen Galleries, a...

Criterion Mobile Closet Arrives in L.A. for Two-Day Stop at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

More Than 1,000 Classic Titles June 6–7 During American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week  Following its successful appearances at SXSW and Vidiots...

Lane Closures Return to PCH in Malibu for Fire Recovery and Emergency Repairs

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Traffic Will Be Impacted as Caltrans and the USACE Conduct Cleanup  The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced updated...

Update: Police Non-Emergency Line Temporarily Down Due to Service Outage in Culver City

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Emergency 9-1-1 Services Remain Active; Alternate Numbers are Available  UPDATE – Monday, June 2 at 7:25 am The Culver City...

Culver City to Frame Iconic Tree with Landmark Sculpture by Charles Gaines

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Acclaimed Conceptual Artist’s Public Artwork Enters Final Phase Culver City is moving forward with the final phase of an ambitious...

Defensible Space, Defined: How A Plus Tree Protects Communities from Wildfire

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

In the wildfire-prone landscapes of the Western United States, safeguarding homes and communities requires proactive measures. A Plus Tree, a...

WeHo Pride Weekend Begins and 2025 Icons Announced: Parades, Concerts, and Community Celebration Kicks Off

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

Three-Day LGBTQ+ Festival Features Performances by Lizzo, Maren Morris, and Kim Petras West Hollywood is preparing to kick off its...