Lawrence deserves transparency.

In late 2024, the City of Lawrence adopted the Fusus real-time surveillance platform on the consent agenda, without public discussion.When residents discovered the full scope of the contract, which included controversial AI analytics, ALPR integrations, and public-private camera networks, as revealed through a Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) request, community pressure won a pause on further integrations and directed the Lawrence Police Department to collaborate with the community on creating oversight.We are now focused on securing a permanent, transparent framework that governs how surveillance technology is approved and used in Lawrence.

The Lawrence Transparency Project is organizing to:

✅Put Fusus on the agenda
✅Pause the integrations
⬜Adopt durable oversight

• 📄 Read the Draft Ordinance
• 📝 Share Your Feedback

• ✍️ Press Kit
• ✖️ Fusus Contract (KORA Request)

What's new?

In September, the City Commission responded to community concerns by pausing additional Fusus integrations and directing the Police Department to work with the community on building a transparent oversight framework. Since then, we’ve been drafting a detailed Surveillance Technology Ordinance grounded in community feedback, national standards, and the City’s own policies.At a November 11th meeting, we delivered the full proposed ordinance to the Police Department to begin the collaborative review the Commission called for. We have not yet received their feedback, and we are now opening a broader community feedback period as we work to finalize a strong public oversight model for Lawrence.

• 📝 Open Letter

📰 Read the News Coverage

• • Lawrence community members ask city commission to reconsider police camera integration program
• • Petition garners signatures pushing back on Lawrence police camera integration program
• • Experts warn of expanding surveillance as Lawrence police adopt camera integration system
• • Lawrence police program asks residents, businesses to register security cameras for police use
• • Kincaid Dennett: Program giving Lawrence police access to cameras needs review, transparency (Column)