Seattle Pauses CCTV Expansion, Orders Audit Ahead Of World Cup

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has paused expansion of the city’s surveillance camera program while ordering a privacy and data governance audit, a decision that comes as city leaders weigh public safety needs against concerns about oversight and civil liberties.

The move affects Seattle’s Real Time Crime Center, which operates police CCTV cameras in parts of downtown, along Aurora Avenue and in the Chinatown International District. The program launched in April 2025 as a pilot and was later approved for expansion, though additional cameras have not yet been installed or activated.

Mayor Wilson said the pause is necessary to ensure policies governing surveillance are fully developed before the program grows.

“First, I am pausing expansion of this pilot until we have completed a privacy and data governance audit, and taken significant steps to strengthen those policies,” said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.

Under the plan, existing cameras will remain in operation during the review. The mayor also outlined specific conditions tied to safety and privacy concerns, including plans to install cameras in the Stadium District ahead of the FIFA World Cup, but only activate them if a credible threat emerges.

“However, they will not be turned on and will not be connected to the RTCC unless we are aware of a credible threat which warrants such action,” said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.

The decision has drawn support from members of the Seattle City Council, who emphasized both the value of surveillance tools and the need for accountability.

Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle, chair of the Public Safety Committee, said the audit is an opportunity to strengthen the program while maintaining its role in public safety.

“We must continually look for ways to improve this tool to ensure it functions as intended: strengthening public safety while safeguarding our vulnerable communities,” said Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle.

Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera also supported the review, while stressing the importance of keeping existing tools in place and ensuring the audit is completed quickly.

“As someone who always favors accountability and transparency, I support the idea of conducting a credible audit on the use of, and protections around, CCTV,” said Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera.

Both councilmembers pointed to the upcoming FIFA World Cup as a key deadline, urging the city to complete the audit and ensure necessary infrastructure is operational before the international event brings global attention to Seattle.

The mayor also announced additional steps, including turning off one camera near a facility that provides reproductive health care and gender affirming care until stronger safeguards are in place.

“I don’t believe it’s worth taking that risk,” said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.

In addition, the city will temporarily pause the use of Automatic License Plate Readers while reviewing compliance with new state restrictions.

Mayor Wilson said the broader goal is to balance safety with trust as the city evaluates how surveillance tools are used.

“This is a decision about more than cameras. It’s about how we approach public safety, how we build trust, and how we show up for communities across this city,” said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.

Wilson is expected to hold a public town hall next week at Town Hall Seattle to gather input from residents on the future of the program.