1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

“For many Americans, the term mass surveillance evokes the Department of Homeland Security, which was founded after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This national agency, which forms part of a federal intelligence apparatus (https://epic.org/issues/surveillance-oversight/intelligence-surveillance/) of more than 20 agencies focused on surveillance, has played a key role in mass surveillance since 2001 (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/invasive-and-ineffective-dhs-surveillance-911), especially of Muslim Americans. But it has local help in the form of police units known as fusion centers (https://www.dhs.gov/fusion-centers). These units feed identification information and physical evidence such as video footage to federal agencies such as the FBI and CIA, according to a 2023 whistleblower report (https://csrr.rutgers.edu/issues/fusion-center-report/) from Rutgers Law School. The New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center (https://www.nj.gov/njsp/division/investigations/njroic.shtml), for example, is a police fusion center overseeing New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It employs advanced military technology to gather massive amounts of personal data on people perceived as potential security threats. According to the Rutgers report, these “threats” are highly concentrated in Black, Latino and Arab communities, as well as areas with a high concentration of political organizing, such as Black Lives Matter groups and immigrant aid organizations. The New Jersey police fusion approach leads to increased arrest rates (https://csrr.rutgers.edu/issues/fusion-center-report/), according to the report, but there’s no real evidence that it prevents crime or terrorism.” The Seattle Fusion Center and any others in our state MUST prioritize the protection of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of every Washington resident or visitor in all activities and data sharing while striving to keep their communities safe. History warns us that misuse of surveillance technology threatens communities, democracy, and fundamental rights. Stand with residents who want privacy, dignity, and constitutional protection. Thank you for your service and leadership.