Seattle’s $1M CCTV expansion proposal sparks privacy concerns

(The Center Square) – Seattle officials are expecting to see a proposed expansion of the city’s crime prevention technology pilot program anticipated to cost $1 million to implement, even as lingering privacy concerns remain.

A proposal has not been officially introduced. However, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell intends to expand Seattle’s closed-circuit television, or CCTV, technology into three areas: the Garfield-Nova High School area, the Stadium District, and the Capitol Hill nightlife area.

Currently, 57 CCTV cameras are installed in the Chinatown-International District, downtown core, and along Aurora Avenue North.

The city council already established $425,000 for CCTV expansion in the Garfield-Nova High School area as part of the city's 2025 budget. Ongoing annual costs to continue CCTV operations in the area is expected to total $40,000.

Seattle’s FIFA World Cup budget proposal for next year includes $200,000 to expand crime prevention technology into the Stadium District, with $20,000 in ongoing annual costs expected.

The city is still identifying funding for CCTV deployment in the Capitol Hill nightlife area, which is expected to cost $400,000 to implement, and $35,000 in ongoing annual costs.

During a Public Safety Committee meeting on Thursday, Joy Hollingsworth, Seattle City Council member who represents the Capitol Hill neighborhood, said crime around the nightlife area has become “alarming,” with frequent drug use and gang activity that made her feel unsafe.

Despite public safety concerns, over a dozen public commenters expressed privacy worries regarding mass surveillance through the CCTV and Real-Time Crime Center, or RTCC, technology.

Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Burgess said safeguards are in place for the technology to be used without violating peoples’ privacy, including ordinances and state laws that restrict how information can be used, special provisions in contracts with third-party support to use camera footage. Individuals that accessed camera footage can be traced by auditors as well.

“We want safeguards in place so that we can use these technologies wisely and effectively, but not violate privacy and civil liberties,” Burgess said during the Public Safety Committee meeting.

Capt. James Britt with the Seattle Police Department and RTCC commander, emphasized that the technologies’ AI capabilities do not involve any facial recognition, biometrics, or other behavioral analyzes. What the technology does is object recognition, like vehicles or specific clothes attributed to suspects.

Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck asked why fund the technology expansion amid a $251 million budget deficit. Burgess responded that the police department needs more resources to address crime in concentrated areas.

“We want every tool we can possibly use to help combat [crime in certain areas]. We’re not going to look away,” Burgess said.

​​Since the RTCC pilot program launched on May 20, it has been utilized on more than 1,000 911 calls and assisted in more than 90 violent crime investigations. The software functions as a single access platform to view and analyze various sources of existing and proposed Seattle police data such as video and audio feeds, officer dispatch information and location, 911 calls, and police records.

Harrell approved the crime prevention pilot in October 2024. The city allocated $3.1 million toward the RTCC as part of its 2025-2026 budget.