Seattle surveillance cameras shut off after FIFA World Cup — privacy audit coming this fall
Jul 7, 2026, 11:23 AM | Updated: 4:48 pm
Surveillance cameras were controversial when they were installed in Seattle in 2013. They were never used and taken down in 2018. (File photo courtesy of AP)
(File photo courtesy of AP)
Now that the FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle are over, surveillance cameras in the city’s Stadium District have been turned off.
After pressure from other local leaders to turn the cameras on and keep them on, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson agreed to activate them during the World Cup only, citing the event’s high global profile.
As of Tuesday morning, the cameras were shut down.
“This follows through on the commitment I made last month that these particular cameras would only be turned on for the duration of the FIFA World Cup in Seattle, because of its high global profile and the unique circumstances surrounding the event,” Wilson said in a statement Tuesday. “I believe we can keep our city safe while also protecting our privacy, but finding the best path to that goal will require continued focus and attention, with community at the table. So, as we take these next steps forward, I commit to continue being direct and transparent about our use of technology and our protections against potential abuse — and to keep listening as we go.”
Over the past three weeks, there were no major incidents near Seattle Stadium, renamed from Lumen Field for the World Cup, or in other parts of the city or King County. That outcome was a relief to King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall.
“We got through that major world-class event without any serious issues,” King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall told KIRO Newsradio Tuesday. “So, I’m just grateful that all was fine.”
An independent audit of all police CCTV policies is expected this fall, and no new cameras will go online until that review is finished and made public.
Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Jon Scholes pushed back on Wilson’s decision, arguing the cameras should stay on regardless of whether the World Cup is over.
“Deactivating Seattle’s safety cameras makes zero sense,” Scholes said in a statement to KIRO Newsradio. “Massive crowds with international visitors may have left, but the community remains, and their safety should be supported by the best available resources. Cameras are helping keep our buses, light rail trains, airports, ports and roads safe. They’re a critical tool law enforcement utilizes to solve crimes, providing crucial evidence, while having important privacy code built into their use to protect the public. Turning off the cameras is blindfolding law enforcement and makes it harder to solve crimes.”
How the Stadium District cameras were activated
In early June, Wilson decided to activate the highly debated cameras in the Stadium District during the World Cup, saying in a statement that the Seattle Police Department and FBI identified “general but credible threats to safety and security during the games” after gathering intelligence.
“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 stated.
Wilson said the safety and security of the public is the city’s highest priority. She also acknowledged citizens’ concerns regarding privacy and the use of information for federal immigration enforcement.
“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 stated.
Wilson said the city, law enforcement, emergency management, and FIFA security partners had developed a strong plan to prioritize both safety and a positive experience for those attending the events.
“Seattle is ready to welcome the world,” Wilson said at the time. “This summer, people from across the globe will experience our city, our neighborhoods, and our values firsthand. The world will celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Weekend with us. We look forward to showcasing the very best of Seattle while ensuring a safe, memorable, and successful World Cup for all.”
Seattle City Council support and the Boston Marathon parallel
Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka praised Wilson’s decision to activate the cameras.
“Mayor Wilson made the right call to turn on the Stadium District cameras for the World Cup,” Saka said in a statement. “With the eyes of the world on Seattle, lives are on the line. I appreciate her thoughtful work on this issue and being open to hearing differing opinions.”
Saka made an emotional plea earlier this year for Wilson to turn the cameras on ahead of the World Cup. He ran the Boston Marathon in 2013 and pointed to the usefulness of CCTV cameras in the bombing investigation.
“In 2013, me and my wife ran the Boston Marathon,” Saka told colleagues during a Public Safety Committee meeting. “And then the first of the bombs went off, and I’ll never forget. And then another device exploded shortly thereafter.”
He credited CCTV cameras with helping law enforcement identify the Boston attackers and prevent further tragedy.
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KIRO Newsradio hosts pushed for camera activation
KIRO Newsradio hosts Gee Scott, Ursula Reutin, Charlie Harger, Spike O’Neill, Jake Skorheim, and John Curley had all been vocal in asking the city to turn on the cameras. Gee correctly predicted the cameras would be turned on ahead of the World Cup.
“I understand why people have concerns about the cameras. Cameras in the wrong situation can be bad, but in this situation, [Seattle] is one of 11 cities where the World Cup is going to be, and we are the only city that doesn’t have the cameras rolling,” Gee said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio Wednesday. “She specifically said, until there is a credible threat. We’ll only [turn them on] if it’s a credible threat. Somehow, some way, I have a feeling before June 15, those cameras are going to be turned on.”
Harger said that if Wilson had kept the cameras off, it would be a “welcome mat for people with bad intentions.”
“Bad actors plan venues by surveillance posture. They read host-city security policy the same way the rest of us read the weather,” he wrote. “Seattle’s policy went up on the bulletin board in March. The publication was the signal. Vancouver turned on 200 cameras. Toronto is running 360-degree CCTV with AI analytics. Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey hardened their security posture for the games. Seattle stands alone.”
Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest
Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
