Seattle Surveillance Ordinance
Seattle Surveillance Ordinance (SMC Chapter 14.18)
Seattle, WA · Seattle Ordinance 125376 (2017), SMC ch. 14.18, as amended 2018
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- September 1, 2017
- Applies to
- All City of Seattle departments, including Seattle Police Department and Seattle IT
- Enforced by
- Seattle City Council; Seattle IT compliance program; Office of Inspector General
Seattle requires city departments to get City Council approval before acquiring or using surveillance technologies, supported by public Surveillance Impact Reports and review by a community working group. One of the earliest and most comprehensive municipal surveillance-oversight laws in the country.
Who is protected: People in Seattle subject to municipal surveillance technologies
Legal detail
SMC ch. 14.18 (Ordinance 125376, 2017; strengthened 2018) requires Council approval of each surveillance technology, publication of Surveillance Impact Reports, and Community Surveillance Working Group review including racial-equity analysis.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | July 31, 2017 |
| Citation | Seattle Ordinance 125376 (2017), SMC ch. 14.18, as amended 2018 |
| Topics | police and surveillance AI · government use of AI · consumer data privacy · AI disclosure and transparency · automated decision-making |
| Agency page | Surveillance Technology — Seattle Information Technology |
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