City Council takes closer look at how surveillance cameras will be used in Seattle

SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council is taking a closer look at how surveillance cameras will be used in the city.

The bill, CB 119519, is an ordinance relating to surveillance technology implementation, looking at the use of SDOT's closed-circuit television traffic cameras and license plate readers.

These cameras are used to manage traffic and estimate travel times. However, some people are concerned that these cameras could be used to track their every movement. Some asked if Seattle's City Council is doing enough to make sure city cameras aren't spying on them.

The ordinance would regulate usage and make sure everyone operating the cameras would get adequate training.

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SDOT says traffic cameras and plate readers are used to manage traffic, not to track people.

"We try to be clear with our operators never zoom in to the extent that you can determine or distinguish somebody's face or license plate while you're using the tech," said Jason Cambridge, information technology lead for the city.

"Every hand that touches the technology from the city's standpoint will be trained adequately," City Council President Bruce Harrell.

The ACLU had input on the ordinance concerning traffic cameras, and their main concern is that recording will be allowed, and the cameras could be used by an agency like ICE as part of a crackdown on certain groups.

"I think SDOT doesn't intend for these technologies to be used out of their scope, but it may not be in their control," said Shankar Narayan with ACLU Seattle. "It puts safeguards in place to make sure people's rights and faces are protected."

In a Monday meeting, the bill had passed at full council.

Cox Media Group