There are many reports that “SF bans facial recognition” (I’m looking at you NYT), but this is not true. The “ban” is just a restriction on its own government agencies (including the police) from using facial recognition.
San Francisco’s ban covers government agencies, including the city police and county sheriff’s department, but doesn’t affect the technology that unlocks your iPhone or cameras installed by businesses or individuals. It’s part of a broader package of rules, introduced in January by supervisor Aaron Peskin, that will require agencies to gain approval from the board before purchasing surveillance tech and will require that they publicly disclose its intended use.
SAN FRANCISCO BANS AGENCY USE OF FACIAL-RECOGNITION TECH
None of the reporting seems to link to the actual ordinance, but you can find it on the SF Board of Supervisor’s website. It is file #190110, introduced 1/29/2019. The actual ordinance is here. Summary is here.