In May 2018, Oakland joined a growing number of California cities and counties that are currently passing meaningful surveillance oversight laws.

The new law requires that the Privacy Advisory Commission be notified if the city is spending money or seeking outside grant money to be spent on any hardware or software that could potentially impact privacy. Notably, Oakland's law specifically includes provisions that forbid non-disclosure agreements and protect whistleblowers.

Oakland has been at the forefront of local efforts to pass pro-privacy measures for many years now. Back in 2013, after a controversial measure to approve federal grant money to construct a "Domain Awareness Center," the city created the PAC. This body, composed of volunteer commissioners from each city council district, acts as a privacy check on the city when any municipal entity (typically the police department) wants to acquire a technology that may impinge on individual privacy.

It appears to be the only municipal entity like this anywhere in the nation.

So to help us understand what's going on with the Oakland PAC, we've invited Oakland attorney and PAC member Raymundo Jacquez III to the next edition of Ars Live.

Raymundo Jacquez III joined the Youth Law Academy (YLA) at the Centro Legal de la Raza in 2014. He earned his J.D. from UC Davis School of Law in 2014 and his B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Chicana/o Studies from UCLA in 2008. Jacquez is passionate about improving access to the legal profession for students of color, civil rights law, police accountability, education, and social justice.

As the YLA Program Director, Jacquez manages the mentorship program, coordinates internships, and advances the group's Diversity Legal Pipeline for undergraduate students. He brings his experience as a youth organizer, educator, and lawyer to the YLA to engage students in a critical examination of the legal system and hopes to motivate students to realize their unique potentials as agents of change in their community.

Ars Live takes place on the second Wednesday of every month at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland (3629 MLK Way—they have the best tater tots you've ever eaten).

Doors open at 7pm, and the live filming is from 7:30pm to 8:20-ish (be sure to get there early if you want a seat). Stick around afterward for informal discussion, beer, and snacks. Can't make it out to Oakland? Never fear! Episodes will be posted to Ars Technica the week after the live events.

The event is free but space is limited, so RSVP using Eventbrite. You can also keep up with the latest Ars Live doings on Facebook. See you soon, Bay Area Arsians!