As part of a pilot project, the CCTV cameras will be installed in the Third Avenue corridor downtown
The Seattle City Council’s Public Safety Committee has approved a plan to install new CCTV cameras and implement “Real-Time Crime Center” (RTCC) software in key areas to tackle crime. The proposal will be put to a vote by the full council next month.
As part of a pilot project, the CCTV cameras will be installed in the Third Avenue corridor downtown, the Chinatown International District (including Little Saigon), and along Aurora Avenue in North Seattle. Mayor Bruce Harrell voiced his support for these technologies while discussing the city’s budget, which has allocated over $2.4 million in 2025 to fund the crime prevention measures.
“I strongly believe in using the latest technology as a tool to strengthen our public safety efforts,” Mayor Harrell said in a recent speech. The city emphasized that the cameras will only be placed in public areas, such as sidewalks, streets, and parks, to limit privacy concerns.
Signage will notify people about the presence of the cameras. Recorded footage will be stored for up to 30 days before being deleted, unless it’s needed for evidence. The Seattle Police Department has also stated that face recognition technology will not be used.
However, the plan has its critics. Some argue that there’s no solid evidence that CCTV cameras effectively reduce crime.
“We are deeply concerned about the city’s efforts to deploy CCTV cameras and real-time crime center (RTCC) software despite evidence that these technologies do not reduce violent crime and disproportionately harm communities of color,” said Tee Sannon, Technology Policy Director at the ACLU of Washington. Sannon also expressed concerns that RTCC software could enable out-of-state agencies to access data to arrest immigrants or prosecute those seeking reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, potentially bypassing state protections.
The Seattle Police Department addressed this in their presentation, stating that they “will not cooperate in criminal or civil enforcement of laws related to immigration or reproductive or gender-affirming health care services.”
Seattle is partnering with Axon, a company known for police body cameras and tasers, to develop the RTCC. Earlier this year, Axon acquired Fusus, a leader in real-time crime center technology. Axon highlighted the advantages of these centers, saying, “Real-time crime centers like Fusus offer an unprecedented opportunity to increase safety in any moment, in every environment,” integrating live video and other data points from across a community.
There are also discussions about the potential use of footage from private sources, such as Ring cameras, as part of the RTCC system. However, the city has decided not to move forward with funding a controversial gunshot detection technology, which Mayor Harrell addressed earlier this year.
The debate over the effectiveness and ethics of using such technology will likely continue as the full council prepares to vote on the legislation next month.
