Seattle City Council is considering a proposal to roll out automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to Seattle Police Department’s entire fleet of cars. Both the expansion and the storage of the data collected by these readers raises new dangers to people’s privacy and civil liberties.

After vigorous opposition from the ACLU-WA, activists, and the public, the city has announced that it is dropping plans to deploy automated gunshot location systems. However, the city declared its intention to move forward with the installation of CCTV cameras and the expansion of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) throughout several Seattle neighborhoods, in conjunction with the deployment of real-time crime center software (RTCC), to surveil residents despite the objections of the ACLU-WA and members of the public.   

The City is holding a public comment period on surveillance systems for use in neighborhoods.

Legislators in the Washington Senate advanced ESHB 1155, the Washington My Health, My Data Act, which removes significant barriers reproductive and gender affirming health care by protecting the privacy of people’s health data.