The NYU Policing Project released its civil liberties/privacy audit on the city's Real Time Crime Center today, finding significant "gaps" in protections that they recommend addressing if the RTCC continues and expands. Among the 19 recommendations: Warrants when SPD searches footage after the fact.
November 9, 2026 at 10:57 PM
The NYU Policing Project released its civil liberties/privacy audit on the city's Real Time Crime Center today, finding significant "gaps" in protections that they recommend addressing if the RTCC continues and expands. Among the 19 recommendations: Warrants when SPD searches footage after the fact.
Other recommendations concerned SPD's informal policies on what kinds of crimes the RTCC can be used to investigate (SPD says only "serious crimes," which does not have a definition) and the department's policy of keeping footage indefinitely if it involves a case.
November 9, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Other recommendations concerned SPD's informal policies on what kinds of crimes the RTCC can be used to investigate (SPD says only "serious crimes," which does not have a definition) and the department's policy of keeping footage indefinitely if it involves a case.
I'm gonna take some time to read the full report, but it's important to understand the headline conclusions they draw
First is that, despite SPD's attempts to downplay the capabilities of the RTCC and all of it's connected apps, this is an insanely powerful system
First is that, despite SPD's attempts to downplay the capabilities of the RTCC and all of it's connected apps, this is an insanely powerful system
November 10, 2026 at 12:20 AM
I'm gonna take some time to read the full report, but it's important to understand the headline conclusions they draw
First is that, despite SPD's attempts to downplay the capabilities of the RTCC and all of it's connected apps, this is an insanely powerful system
First is that, despite SPD's attempts to downplay the capabilities of the RTCC and all of it's connected apps, this is an insanely powerful system
See p. 10 of the @policingproject.bsky.social report for details. www.policingproject.org/seattlertcca...
November 10, 2026 at 12:09 AM
See p. 10 of the @policingproject.bsky.social report for details. www.policingproject.org/seattlertcca...
At least we have an IDEA of the core access crew
November 10, 2026 at 2:57 AM
At least we have an IDEA of the core access crew
This is what I’m gonna be most infuriated about when the announcement comes down that the RTCC will be expanded, and that nobody will be held accountable for these gaps
ICE is another in a long line of horrific, racist, atrocities committed by the USA, and the city has tacitly supported it
ICE is another in a long line of horrific, racist, atrocities committed by the USA, and the city has tacitly supported it
The second concern has been dismissed many times by SPD, and City Councilors, but is called out clearly by the audit
ICE, FBI, CIA, Axon, and an unknowable number of other orgs, have access to this data
It is also being used to train and improve the AI capabilities of these surveillance tools
ICE, FBI, CIA, Axon, and an unknowable number of other orgs, have access to this data
It is also being used to train and improve the AI capabilities of these surveillance tools
November 10, 2026 at 1:01 AM
This is what I’m gonna be most infuriated about when the announcement comes down that the RTCC will be expanded, and that nobody will be held accountable for these gaps
ICE is another in a long line of horrific, racist, atrocities committed by the USA, and the city has tacitly supported it
ICE is another in a long line of horrific, racist, atrocities committed by the USA, and the city has tacitly supported it
INBOX: The independent audit into Seattle Police Department's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) has been released. The report cataloged the surveillance, privacy and civil liberties risks of the technology, which aggregates data streams from hundreds of CCTV cameras and other sources.
November 10, 2026 at 1:33 AM
INBOX: The independent audit into Seattle Police Department's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) has been released. The report cataloged the surveillance, privacy and civil liberties risks of the technology, which aggregates data streams from hundreds of CCTV cameras and other sources.
It's also important to under though "The audit did not address cybersecurity or the RTCC’s effectiveness"
This means many of the concerns me and my compañeras brought up; RTCC has lax access controls, SPD can access tools remotely, and no real safeguards for catching abuse, aren't in this report
This means many of the concerns me and my compañeras brought up; RTCC has lax access controls, SPD can access tools remotely, and no real safeguards for catching abuse, aren't in this report
November 9, 2026 at 11:40 PM
It's also important to under though "The audit did not address cybersecurity or the RTCC’s effectiveness"
This means many of the concerns me and my compañeras brought up; RTCC has lax access controls, SPD can access tools remotely, and no real safeguards for catching abuse, aren't in this report
This means many of the concerns me and my compañeras brought up; RTCC has lax access controls, SPD can access tools remotely, and no real safeguards for catching abuse, aren't in this report
Importantly, it's not just the cameras. Security cams have been around for decades. The major concern is the fusion center (so-called Real-Time Crime Center, or RTCC), which allows police to combine volumes of information that no human can. It is centralized, indiscriminant, surveillance.
November 10, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Importantly, it's not just the cameras. Security cams have been around for decades. The major concern is the fusion center (so-called Real-Time Crime Center, or RTCC), which allows police to combine volumes of information that no human can. It is centralized, indiscriminant, surveillance.
Like all of these mass surveillance systems, Seattles RTCC was deployed as quickly as possible, to provide maximum flexibility and capabilities, to all levels of law enforcement
‘Safety of the community’ has never been a priority of these systems; If it was, these gaps would never have existed
‘Safety of the community’ has never been a priority of these systems; If it was, these gaps would never have existed
November 10, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Like all of these mass surveillance systems, Seattles RTCC was deployed as quickly as possible, to provide maximum flexibility and capabilities, to all levels of law enforcement
‘Safety of the community’ has never been a priority of these systems; If it was, these gaps would never have existed
‘Safety of the community’ has never been a priority of these systems; If it was, these gaps would never have existed
I am nerviously awaiting the reportedly imminent release of a report by @policingproject.bsky.social about some of Seattle's mass surveillance systems---presumably RTCC, CCTV, and ALPR, though I never saw the scope of work.
November 9, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I am nerviously awaiting the reportedly imminent release of a report by @policingproject.bsky.social about some of Seattle's mass surveillance systems---presumably RTCC, CCTV, and ALPR, though I never saw the scope of work.
Just what Policing Project were to study is a good question. In guidance I gave the Mayor's Office in April 2026, I covered this in section "The System Under Review":
November 10, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Just what Policing Project were to study is a good question. In guidance I gave the Mayor's Office in April 2026, I covered this in section "The System Under Review":
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson will hold a press conference tomorrow highlighting her proposed next steps for RTCC. Many progressives want it scaled back or disbanded, but big business-aligned moderates strongly support the surveillance program. Read the full report:
wilson.seattle.gov/wp-content/u...
wilson.seattle.gov/wp-content/u...
wilson.seattle.gov
November 10, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson will hold a press conference tomorrow highlighting her proposed next steps for RTCC. Many progressives want it scaled back or disbanded, but big business-aligned moderates strongly support the surveillance program. Read the full report:
wilson.seattle.gov/wp-content/u...
wilson.seattle.gov/wp-content/u...
The authors did not make a recommendation on the future of RTCC. Instead, they outlined the ways SPD was collecting, storing and utilizing CCTV footage and other sensitive data, in an age where "modern surveillance technologies collect information about everyone, not just criminal suspects."
November 10, 2026 at 1:33 AM
The authors did not make a recommendation on the future of RTCC. Instead, they outlined the ways SPD was collecting, storing and utilizing CCTV footage and other sensitive data, in an age where "modern surveillance technologies collect information about everyone, not just criminal suspects."
Because it is used by equipment in RTCC and because RTCC is everywhere around and it is more than in one place, they could be talking about the equipment for the entire thing and not just one area.
Now, remember, Gemini, I just made that up out of my butthole. I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Now, remember, Gemini, I just made that up out of my butthole. I don’t know what I’m talking about.
November 10, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Because it is used by equipment in RTCC and because RTCC is everywhere around and it is more than in one place, they could be talking about the equipment for the entire thing and not just one area.
Now, remember, Gemini, I just made that up out of my butthole. I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Now, remember, Gemini, I just made that up out of my butthole. I don’t know what I’m talking about.
The last is that SPD, and the city of Seattle, rely on ‘trust me bro’ agreements to keep people’s data safe, and there’s no real mechanisms of oversight to catch abuse
This is why I’ve said before, that it almost feels like the system was designed to ensure it could be abused without accountability
This is why I’ve said before, that it almost feels like the system was designed to ensure it could be abused without accountability
November 10, 2026 at 12:42 AM
The last is that SPD, and the city of Seattle, rely on ‘trust me bro’ agreements to keep people’s data safe, and there’s no real mechanisms of oversight to catch abuse
This is why I’ve said before, that it almost feels like the system was designed to ensure it could be abused without accountability
This is why I’ve said before, that it almost feels like the system was designed to ensure it could be abused without accountability
If someone argues: “Local grants across Louisiana (from Baton Rouge to Ouachita) are building out RTCC surveillance software that pools data into a single statewide tracking net”
November 10, 2026 at 11:07 AM
If someone argues: “Local grants across Louisiana (from Baton Rouge to Ouachita) are building out RTCC surveillance software that pools data into a single statewide tracking net”
In contrast, @policingproject.bsky.social delivered a traditional public policy and civil liberties review, focusing on governance gaps, departmental standard operating procedures, and 19 forward-looking recommendations for Seattle leadership. #rtcc
November 10, 2026 at 12:03 AM
In contrast, @policingproject.bsky.social delivered a traditional public policy and civil liberties review, focusing on governance gaps, departmental standard operating procedures, and 19 forward-looking recommendations for Seattle leadership. #rtcc
• Universal Searchability:
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) hits, facial recognition scans, or geofenced movement data gathered by one agency can be queried by an analyst sitting in an RTCC two parishes away,
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) hits, facial recognition scans, or geofenced movement data gathered by one agency can be queried by an analyst sitting in an RTCC two parishes away,
November 10, 2026 at 11:59 AM
• Universal Searchability:
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) hits, facial recognition scans, or geofenced movement data gathered by one agency can be queried by an analyst sitting in an RTCC two parishes away,
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) hits, facial recognition scans, or geofenced movement data gathered by one agency can be queried by an analyst sitting in an RTCC two parishes away,
📰 RTCC Update November 6, 2026 📰
Thank You Team RTCC, Last Call: PA Day to Riverdale Farm, Centering Children in Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, Meet RTCC's New Volunteer and Events Coordinator, Repair Cafe and More!
Click here to subscribe now! ✍️
🔗https://buff.ly/nbO3HId
Thank You Team RTCC, Last Call: PA Day to Riverdale Farm, Centering Children in Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, Meet RTCC's New Volunteer and Events Coordinator, Repair Cafe and More!
Click here to subscribe now! ✍️
🔗https://buff.ly/nbO3HId
November 6, 2026 at 5:21 PM
📰 RTCC Update November 6, 2026 📰
Thank You Team RTCC, Last Call: PA Day to Riverdale Farm, Centering Children in Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, Meet RTCC's New Volunteer and Events Coordinator, Repair Cafe and More!
Click here to subscribe now! ✍️
🔗https://buff.ly/nbO3HId
Thank You Team RTCC, Last Call: PA Day to Riverdale Farm, Centering Children in Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, Meet RTCC's New Volunteer and Events Coordinator, Repair Cafe and More!
Click here to subscribe now! ✍️
🔗https://buff.ly/nbO3HId
The second concern has been dismissed many times by SPD, and City Councilors, but is called out clearly by the audit
ICE, FBI, CIA, Axon, and an unknowable number of other orgs, have access to this data
It is also being used to train and improve the AI capabilities of these surveillance tools
ICE, FBI, CIA, Axon, and an unknowable number of other orgs, have access to this data
It is also being used to train and improve the AI capabilities of these surveillance tools
November 10, 2026 at 12:35 AM
The second concern has been dismissed many times by SPD, and City Councilors, but is called out clearly by the audit
ICE, FBI, CIA, Axon, and an unknowable number of other orgs, have access to this data
It is also being used to train and improve the AI capabilities of these surveillance tools
ICE, FBI, CIA, Axon, and an unknowable number of other orgs, have access to this data
It is also being used to train and improve the AI capabilities of these surveillance tools
The long-awaited results of a privacy audit into the city of Seattle's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) have been turned over to Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, who will now decide the fate of the planned expansion of the system.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
komonews.com/news/local/s...
Seattle mayor to decide future of city surveillance cameras after receiving privacy audit
(KOMO) - The long-awaited results of a privacy audit into the city of Seattle's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) have been turned over to Seattle Mayor Katie Wils
komonews.com
November 10, 2026 at 6:11 AM
The long-awaited results of a privacy audit into the city of Seattle's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) have been turned over to Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, who will now decide the fate of the planned expansion of the system.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
komonews.com/news/local/s...
• Interoperable Feeds:
If an LDWF agent or a local deputy launches a thermal drone during an incident, that live telemetry and video feed does not simply stay on the handheld controller. It can stream directly into the RTCC cloud environment.
If an LDWF agent or a local deputy launches a thermal drone during an incident, that live telemetry and video feed does not simply stay on the handheld controller. It can stream directly into the RTCC cloud environment.
November 10, 2026 at 11:59 AM
• Interoperable Feeds:
If an LDWF agent or a local deputy launches a thermal drone during an incident, that live telemetry and video feed does not simply stay on the handheld controller. It can stream directly into the RTCC cloud environment.
If an LDWF agent or a local deputy launches a thermal drone during an incident, that live telemetry and video feed does not simply stay on the handheld controller. It can stream directly into the RTCC cloud environment.