Seattle Mayor Faces Pressure on Surveillance Camera Expansion

Mayor Katie Wilson's campaign promise to limit police cameras faces scrutiny as she settles into office.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson campaigned on opposing the expansion of police surveillance cameras in the city, but more than a month into her term, she has yet to take any concrete action on the issue. Advocacy groups like the ACLU of Washington and some city council members are urging Wilson to delay any further expansion of the camera network, citing concerns that the technology could be used for immigration enforcement purposes, despite a lack of evidence that the current cameras have been used that way.

Why it matters

The question of police surveillance cameras has become a political litmus test for Mayor Wilson, who campaigned as a populist reformer. Her handling of this issue will signal how she plans to govern and whether she will follow through on campaign promises to limit the reach of law enforcement technology.

The details

During her campaign, Wilson voiced opposition to expanding the number of police surveillance cameras in Seattle. However, since taking office, she has not yet announced any specific plans to prevent that expansion, despite calls from advocacy groups and city council members to delay further camera installations due to concerns about potential misuse for immigration enforcement.

  • Wilson was elected as Seattle mayor in November 2025.
  • She took office in January 2026, more than a month ago.

The players

Katie Wilson

The current mayor of Seattle who campaigned on limiting police surveillance cameras but has yet to take concrete action on the issue since taking office.

ACLU of Washington

A civil liberties advocacy group that is urging Mayor Wilson to delay any expansion of Seattle's police surveillance camera network.

Seattle City Council

Some members of the Seattle City Council have also called on Mayor Wilson to limit the expansion of police surveillance cameras in the city.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not allow the expansion of surveillance technology that could be misused to target vulnerable communities.”

— ACLU of Washington (Seattle Times)

What’s next

Mayor Wilson is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks regarding her plans for police surveillance cameras in Seattle.

The takeaway

Mayor Wilson's handling of the police surveillance camera issue will be an early test of her commitment to the populist, reform-minded platform she campaigned on. Advocacy groups and city leaders are closely watching to see if she will follow through on limiting the expansion of this technology.