The Asheville City Council took another step toward approving a new Real-Time Intelligence Center. This center is funded with federal funds.
The Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) is a room where the police centralize and monitor information from multiple sources in real time.
At the City Council's Policy, Finance, and Infrastructure Committee meeting on April 28, the Police Department presented its arguments for why implementing an integrated surveillance system would benefit public safety. They also explained the benefits for crime investigations.
However, community concerns about privacy, data collection, and the connection to federal funding were also raised. Although there were no public comments, several City Council members expressed these concerns.
Now, the acceptance of $1 million in federal funds, managed through the representative's office, is expected. Chuck EdwardsIt will be put to a vote at one of the City Council sessions next month. However, the date has yet to be decided.
Police Department Presentation
“I want to acknowledge something from the outset: concerns about surveillance are real and valid. Many people are worried about the overuse of technology and how tools like these can be used.”
“Those concerns deserve to be heard and taken seriously,” said Asheville Police Department Interim Chief Jackie Stepp.
"Our goal is not to expand surveillance for its own sake, but to use tools responsibly to improve public safety while respecting the rights and expectations of the members of this community. ", said.
However, community concern about the use of artificial intelligence in these systems and the possible relationship with federal agencies was demonstrated. in the City Council session of April 14thThat time, he had to remove himself from the favored agenda and return to committee.
Community concerns Can this system be used against immigrants?
One of the most direct questions of the session was whether the system can be used to track or report the migratory status of the people in Asheville. Stepp was categorical: “We do not use, track, or report immigration status.”
In response to inquiries about the Flock system (part of the cameras that will be used in the Intelligence Center) and the use for immigration purposes, Stepp gave the floor to Flock Safety representative Holly Baylin.
Baylin said the system has a specific filter that blocks any immigration-related searches. “If someone within Asheville or from any outside agency with access to its cameras attempts to conduct an immigration-related search, the system automatically blocks it. It never reaches the cameras,” Baylin said.
Stepp confirmed that the filter was activated at the request of the city's Police Department.
Another concern raised was the possibility of the system being hacked. Baylin maintained that “the cloud environment where everything is stored and encrypted has never been hacked.” And, according to her, the cases circulating on social media referred to a physical camera, not the central system.
The risk of misuse by agents was also discussed. In response to this concern, Baylin stated that every search performed in the system is logged and requires a specific reason. Stepp added that only trained and authorized personnel can access the system.
What does the Surveillance Center consist of, according to the Asheville Police Department?
The Real-Time Intelligence Center, known by its acronym RTIC, is an operations room. There, police personnel gather and monitor information from various sources in a single physical space.
According to the interim chief, the center would function as a coordination point where multiple technological tools already used by the Asheville Police Department would converge. These include body cameras, patrol car cameras, drones, license plate readers, and the 911 dispatch system.
Stepp also reported that he is in discussions with the Buncombe County Sheriff to consolidate both operations into a single center, rather than operating them separately. “The sheriff and I came away from that meeting with the same conclusion: one is better,” he said.
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What is the FUSUS system and how does it work?
As reported in the session, Fusus is a software platform that integrates camera feeds onto a single screen, the maps and the alerts that the Police Department already uses. These tools include: body cameras, vehicle cameras, drones, and license plate readers.
The estimated project cost includes approximately $400,000 for the screen wall, $250,000 for construction, equipment, and furnishings, and $467,602 for the Fusus software, which would cover seven to eight years of service. The approximate total is $1,117,602 in federal funds secured by Congressman Chuck Edwards.
“Instead of remembering 100 different passwords to access cameras across the community, you have a single login and everything appears on a map,” Stepp explained. When an incident occurs, the operator draws an area on the map. Immediately, all available cameras in that area automatically appear.
Stepp stated repeatedly that the system will only be used during active criminal investigations, and not to monitor people based on their origin, immigration status, or daily activities. Furthermore, The community will have the opportunity to give their opinion before the Council votes in May.
* The full presentation of the Asheville City Police It can be accessed here: Fusus and The Real-Time Intelligence Center.
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