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Agenda Item
6.20 26-0898 Subject: Appointments To Privacy Advisory Commission
From: Office Of The Mayor
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Confirming The Mayor's Appointment Of Braxton ?Gunter And Ronald Busby To The Privacy Advisory Commission
I respectfully urge the Council to take a closer look at these appointments.
Both nominees appear qualified, but they are employed by the same company, with one serving in a leadership role over the other. For a commission as influential as the Privacy Advisory Commission, this does not promote the diversity of perspectives that independent oversight benefits from.
The PAC exercises significant authority over Oakland's surveillance technologies and privacy policies. Given the importance of these decisions, the City should seek the broadest possible pool of applicants representing different professional backgrounds, organizations, and viewpoints.
I understand the Mayor's Office interviewed the applicants who had applied through the online portal over the past six months. However, as we recently saw with Police Commission appointments, relying solely on existing applicants can unnecessarily limit the candidate pool. If there are not enough diverse candidates, the better approach is to conduct broader outreach and recruitment before making appointments.
These appointments will shape Oakland's privacy governance for years to come. I encourage the Council to consider whether the process has produced the broad, independent representation that the Commission—and the public—deserve.
I respectfully urge the Council to take a closer look at these appointments.
Both nominees appear qualified, but they are employed by the same company, with one serving in a leadership role over the other. For a commission as influential as the Privacy Advisory Commission, this does not promote the diversity of perspectives that independent oversight benefits from.
The PAC exercises significant authority over Oakland's surveillance technologies and privacy policies. Given the importance of these decisions, the City should seek the broadest possible pool of applicants representing different professional backgrounds, organizations, and viewpoints.
I understand the Mayor's Office interviewed the applicants who had applied through the online portal over the past six months. However, as we recently saw with Police Commission appointments, relying solely on existing applicants can unnecessarily limit the candidate pool. If there are not enough diverse candidates, the better approach is to conduct broader outreach and recruitment before making appointments.
These appointments will shape Oakland's privacy governance for years to come. I encourage the Council to consider whether the process has produced the broad, independent representation that the Commission—and the public—deserve.