Privacy & Surveillance in Santa Clara County, CA (2026)

Cal. Penal Code § 632

(a) A person who, intentionally and without the consent of all parties to a confidential communication, uses an electronic amplifying or recording device to eavesdrop upon or record the confidential communication, whether the communication is carried on among the parties in the presence of one another or by means of a telegraph, telephone, or other device, except a radio, shall be punished by a...

Santa Clara County Ordinance Code §§ A40-2(b), A40-7(c)

Each County department other than the Office of the Sheriff and the Office of the District Attorney must obtain Board approval at a properly noticed public meeting before any of the following with respect to higher-risk surveillance technology... Examples of surveillance technology include, but are not limited to, drones with cameras or monitoring capabilities, automated license plate readers (...