Following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup in Seattle, mayor Katie Wilson took Stadium-District surveillance cameras offline.
According to Komonews, when the cameras were first installed, Wilson made a commitment to only use the cameras during the World Cup due to its high profile and unique circumstances. In a statement online, she confirmed that the cameras would not be in use following the event.
The city will now conduct a thorough audit of all the information gathered from the 22 total cameras and review its policies regarding how that data is collected and used. Local law enforcement already have access to other cameras throughout the city, and pending the results of the audit, the Stadium-District cameras could be reactivated.
Wilson also committed to sharing that information publicly to increase transparency and give the public the opportunity to weigh in on expanding the camera program in other areas.
"[We'll] complete the data security audit and the larger evaluation that's going on, and then we'll be able to make a more holistic decision about the future of our CCTV camera system," she stated.
Related: FBI Investigated Threat Ahead of Japan-Brazil World Cup Match in Houston
Despite crowds surpassing one million, no major security incidents were experienced or reported in the Stadium-District. However, there were threats made prior to the start of the World Cup, which influenced Wilson’s decision to turn on the cameras.
Privacy advocates have spoken out regarding the cameras, urging them to be left offline and for the city of Seattle to remove all other cameras in the downtown area. Opponents argue that the surveillance could be used to target immigrants and anti-immigration enforcement or even abortion-related investigations in Washington.
Erika Bryce Cannatelli, privacy advocate with Seattle Solidarity Budget said she wants to "make sure all of the city leadership looks at the audit deeply and listens to the community deeply.”
