In a move that could change the landscape of public safety in downtown San Antonio, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and Centro San Antonio are proposing a sweeping plan to implement a network of security cameras armed with artificial intelligence (AI) software. These cameras are intended to enhance security and expedite police response times. SAPD Chief William McManus articulated the necessity for such technology during Tuesday's budget meeting, pointing out that the cameras would target behavior that is not typical for that area, such as unexpected crowds and accidents, as KENS 5 reported.
The idea for an integrated camera network isn't a spur of the moment decision but is the result of over a years' labour and findings from a Centro-conducted security audit that pinpointed the lack of a sophisticated security network downtown. Trish DeBerry, chair for Centro SA, emphasized the lack of a comprehensive camera system, noting it was not being monitored regularly, according to KENS 5. However, the proposed $1 million plan has raised eyebrows among city council members concerned about potential future uses of facial recognition technology and the broader implications for privacy.
Despite these concerns, Chief McManus has been firm against incorporating facial recognition in the system, citing a misidentification of minority groups as a central issue that needs to be avoided. The initiative's primary phase focuses on Commerce Street, from Alamo Street to North St. Mary's Street, an area selected based on the frequency of service calls. Businesses along this stretch would also have the opportunity to integrate their own security cameras into the wider SAPD network. Chief McManus told KENS 5, "It also provides situational awareness for police and serves as an investigative tool because it is real time. We expect that it may help lower response times in those areas."
Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez expressed wariness about the trajectory of surveillance in the city, "I am ... concerned that we’re moving closer and closer to violating all of the warnings of many dystopian novels about surveillance and an ever-growing police state and the use of AI," as per a statement obtained during a Tuesday budget meeting covered by KSAT. In contrast, local business owner Bill Lyons believes that the cameras could remedy the recurrent issues his establishments face, from vandalism to confrontations with the homeless population. "If they want us to link up, we’d be happy to do it," Lyons said.
The San Antonio City Council is scheduled to finalize and cast their votes on the proposed budget on September 19. If approved, phase one of this forward-looking security measure, which could shape the vitality and safety of downtown San Antonio's streets, is slated to commence in January 2025, with outcomes from the first phase guiding subsequent expansions.
