SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (May 10, 2021) – Last week, a law that creates a process to review state and local surveillance technology and to halt the use of surveillance tech that doesn’t meet acceptable standards went into effect. The law will create an important layer of transparency and oversight for surveillance programs in the state and push back against the growing federal surveillance state. Rep. Francis Gibson (R) introduced House Bill 243 (HB243) on Jan. 26. The law creates the position of “state privacy officer” along with the Personal Privacy Oversight Committee within the office of the state auditor. The committee will have the authority to review government use of surveillance technology and require state or city agencies to terminate the use of such technology if they fail to meet minimum acceptable standards. This will be subject to a legislative override.