The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argues against a proposal in San Francisco that would remove financial penalties for police who violate surveillance oversight laws. Supervisor Matt Dorsey has suggested that the ability for residents to sue the city over illegal spying–and recover attorney fees if they win–incentivizes frivolous lawsuits. The EFF counters that this ‘private right of action’ is a critical enforcement mechanism, citing the SFPD’s history of misconduct and its deliberate violation of state laws like AB 481. They argue that without the threat of lawsuits and fees, police have little incentive to comply with democratic oversight. Given the SFPD’s past unauthorized data sharing with federal agencies like ICE and the looming threat of increased federal power, the EFF insists that now is the time to strengthen, not weaken, police accountability and transparency.