“The breadth and depth of intelligence gathering that informed the briefing identified general but credible threats to safety and security during the games.”
Socialist Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson revealed on Friday that due to "general but credible threats to safety and security" detailed by the FBI and Seattle police, cameras in the Stadium District will be activated during FIFA World Cup games.
"Earlier this week, I received an updated briefing from the Seattle Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation on the current global and local threat environment. The breadth and depth of intelligence gathering that informed the briefing identified general but credible threats to safety and security during the games. While not unexpected given an event of this magnitude, this information has persuaded our law enforcement, emergency management, and FIFA security partners that we should be operating at a heightened risk level. Given this information, the Stadium District cameras will be activated during the FIFA World Cup tournament," Wilson said in a statement.
https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/2063006136174019064?s=20
She said that the safety of "residents, visitors, and fans is our highest priority, and I understand that many community members are deeply concerned about privacy, civil liberties, and the appropriate use of public safety technology."
"I share those values. While I have decided to have the cameras ready to help us quickly establish situational awareness near the stadiums if needed, we will continue honing our policies and protections to safeguard the data these videos capture." She said that partner agencies for the event have "developed a strong thoughtful plan that prioritizes both public safety and the positive experience of everyone attending these events."
Wilson had announced in March plans to pause the expansion of the Real-Time Crime Center CCTV camera program pending the completion of an audit of privacy and data governance. She said at the time that the installation of cameras in the Stadium District would continue, but cameras would not be turned on unless there was a credible threat.
Seattle City Council members urged the cameras to be turned on for the games, which are expected to draw thousands of fans to the city for the event. Councilmember Bob Kettle sent a letter to Wilson urging her to turn them on, and that the decision to pause the cameras’ use "is not contemplated by the ordinances passed by the City Council that authorize and appropriate funds for this public safety initiative." He said that Seattle "is the only one of the 11 host cities without a fully active CCTV system. Leaving this vulnerability unaddressed is an unwarranted and reckless risk to public safety."
In late May, Councilmember Rob Saka urged Wilson to turn the cameras on for the event, citing his experience at the Boston Marathon in 2013, where a fatal bombing took place. "In 2013, me and my wife ran the Boston Marathon. And then the first of the bombs went off, and I'll never forget. And then another device exploded shortly thereafter," he said during a Public Safety Committee meeting.
Saka, who represents the district where the games will take place, credited Boston’s CCTV cameras for helping law enforcement identify the bombers. "The stadium district cameras have already been authorized. The infrastructure exists, and I believe that waiting for a purported credible threat before activating those tools is far too reactive for an event of this magnitude," he said.
Speaking with the Ari Hoffman Show on 570 KVI, Seattle Police Officers Guild President Kent Loux said that the mayor’s office had demanded that a social media post from the union highlighting how the CCTV cameras help solve crimes be taken down. "We basically said, how many more examples do you need of these cameras working," he said of the post.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
