SPD FR Policy
Seattle Police Department — Facial Recognition Policy (2023)
Seattle, WA · Seattle Police Manual §12.045 (2023)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2023
- Applies to
- Seattle Police Department personnel
- Enforced by
- Seattle Office of Police Accountability; Office of Inspector General
Seattle Police Department Manual policy generally prohibiting SPD officers from using facial recognition technology, with no department-issued FR tools and a ban on requesting third-party FR queries.
Who is protected: Seattle residents and visitors
Legal detail
SPD Manual Section 12.045 (2023) prohibits SPD personnel from using facial recognition technology, requesting third parties to run FR queries, or accepting investigative leads derived from FR queries unless specifically authorized through the Seattle Surveillance Ordinance acquisition process; SPD has no department-approved FR system as of 2026.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | June 15, 2023 |
| Citation | Seattle Police Manual §12.045 (2023) |
| Topics | facial recognition · police and surveillance AI · biometric data · consumer data privacy |
| Agency page | SPD Manual Section 12.045 — Facial Recognition Technology |
More AI rules in Seattle, WA
- Seattle algorithmic rent-fixing ban (Ord. 127241 / SMC 7.34, July 2025) · In effect
- Seattle CB 121267 grocery surveillance pricing ban (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Seattle Generative AI Policy · In effect
- Seattle Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Seattle Public Schools AI Handbook + Superintendent Procedure 2022SP · In effect
- Seattle Surveillance Ordinance (SMC 14.18) · In effect
Related facial recognition rules elsewhere
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Bristol VA PD facial recognition program (first VA local agency) · In effect
- Dallas PD Clearview AI facial recognition policy · In effect
- Ban biometric recognition in public accommodations (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Limit facial recognition in residential buildings (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Texas v. Google · In effect
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