By Ruth Bayang
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced on Thursday that the city will hit pause on expanding its police surveillance camera program, a decision that carries particular weight in neighborhoods like the Chinatown-International District (CID), where the technology has drawn both support and concern.
Crews were spotted on April 24, 2025 installing cameras at the intersection of Maynard and Jackson in the Chinatown-International District, Seattle. (Photo by Susan Lee Woo)
For now, the cameras already in place—including those covering parts of the CID near 12th Avenue and South Jackson Street—will stay on. But any planned expansion into additional neighborhoods will wait.
“I am pausing expansion of this pilot until we have completed a privacy and data governance audit, and taken significant steps to strengthen our policies,” Wilson said.
The pilot program currently includes 62 cameras installed in three areas: downtown Seattle, the North Aurora corridor and the CID. The cameras continuously record public spaces but are generally activated for closer monitoring only in response to 911 calls.
“For some people, seeing CCTV cameras in the neighborhood where they live or work or attend school makes them feel safer. For others, those same cameras make them feel less safe,” Wilson said.
Some community advocates in the CID have raised concerns about over-surveillance and the potential misuse of data, particularly given the neighborhood’s large immigrant population. Wilson addressed those concerns directly, noting the possibility of federal data access.
“In the event of a surge of immigration enforcement similar to what was seen in Minneapolis, I will turn off all cameras in order to prevent them from being abused by federal authorities,” she said.
At the same time, Wilson made clear she is not ready to scrap the system entirely.
“There’s no doubt that these cameras make it easier to solve crimes, including serious ones like homicides. But also: Cameras are not the one key to making our neighborhoods safe,” she said.
The mayor also announced a few immediate changes. One camera will be shut off because it captures a location that provides reproductive and gender-affirming care. And the city will temporarily stop using automatic license plate readers until it confirms the technology complies with new state rules.
Photo by Susan Lee Woo
Cameras planned for the Stadium District in advance of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will still be installed—but not switched on unless there is a specific, credible threat.
Wilson said she wants more public input before making any permanent call. The public is invited to weigh in further at a town hall scheduled on March 27 at Town Hall Seattle.
“My decision today is just the first step,” she said. “The decisions we make now will shape how safety, privacy, and trust are experienced in Seattle for years to come.”