Seattle Surveillance Tech Now Up For Public Review

SEATTLE, WA - The public is being invited to review and comment on a slate of surveillance technologies being used by various Seattle departments. Some items up for review include meter-reading devices, 911 call logging systems, and the Seattle police online crime reporting tool.

The city's surveillance ordinance, passed by City Council in September 2017, compels city departments to publish surveillance technology impact reports periodically, and allow the public to comment. A previous public comment period was held in October for a set of different technologies.

Here are the technologies up for review right now. You can read impact reports and comment here.

Seattle Fire Department's computer-aided dispatch system: This is the information 911 dispatchers gather for SFD calls. The system stores information like names and addresses, but that personal information is only available to select department personnel, SFD says.

Acyclica: This is a service SDOT uses to collect traffic data. "Acyclica collects unique phone identifiers, called a MAC address, using a sensor installed inside of traffic control cabinets and immediately encrypts the data. Acyclica then hashes and salts the data, anonymizing it by assigning a set of numbers and letters, then adding [a] random set of additional characters," SDOT describes.

Electricity theft detection: Seattle City Light uses a variety of technologies to see if people are stealing electricity. These can include low-tech items like binoculars on up to an "Ampstick," which measures voltage along power lines.

Seattle Police 911 system: Similar to the SFD system, dispatchers collect personal data to send police to emergency situations. SPD also has a CAD dispatch system up for review.

CopLogic: This is SPD's online crime reporting system. This is where citizens enter personal information if they've been the victim of a crime.

The public-comment period runs through March 5. There will also be a surveillance technology fair hosted by the city on Feb. 27. That event takes place at City Hall in the Bertha Knight Landes Room from 6 to 8 p.m.

Patch file photo