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Nashville, TN Privacy & Surveillance: Facial Recognition Ban (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Camera network facial-recognition ID
Prohibited outright
License plate readers
Barred from facial recognition capability
New surveillance tech deployment
Requires council resolution + hearing
Violation reporting deadline
7 days to mayor/council
Governing law
Metro Code § 13.08.080

Summary

Metro Nashville bars its police-linked community safety camera network from identifying people via facial recognition and bars license plate readers from having facial-recognition capability, while requiring Metropolitan Council approval before any new biometric surveillance tech is deployed.

The community safety camera network shall not be used to identify individuals, or the characteristics thereof, through the use of facial recognition technology. ... An LPR system authorized under this section shall not be capable of facial recognition.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).

Full Breakdown

Metro Code § 13.08.080 governs surveillance technology, a term it defines to include "biometric surveillance technology, including facial, voice, iris, and gait-recognition software." Two provisions target facial recognition directly: MNPD's community safety camera network (public and privately donated "donor" cameras) cannot be used to identify individuals through facial recognition, AI/machine-learning identification, or automated lip-reading (§ 13.08.080(K)(2)(b)); and any license plate reader system Metro authorizes "shall not be capable of facial recognition" (§ 13.08.080(G)(1)(a)(iii)). Beyond those bans, installing any new surveillance technology onto the public right-of-way needs a council resolution passed after a public hearing (§ 13.08.080(C)).

Violations & Fines

MNPD employees have a duty to intervene against and report improper use; violations of the ordinance or camera-network policies must be reported to the mayor and council within seven days of discovery, and LPR misuse can bring disciplinary action up to termination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Metro Nashville police use facial recognition?
No. Metro Code § 13.08.080(K)(2)(b) bars the police-linked community safety camera network from identifying people via facial recognition, and § 13.08.080(G)(1)(a)(iii) bars license plate readers from having that capability.
Can Metro add facial-recognition tools later?
Only with Metropolitan Council approval. Section 13.08.080(C) requires a council resolution adopted after a public hearing before any department can install, acquire, or accept funding for new surveillance technology, a term the ordinance defines to include facial recognition.

Sources & Official References

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