22 June, 2022

CCTV in the City

There has been some confusion this week about the use of facial recognition technology through CCTV in the City of Adelaide.

The City of Adelaide has an existing network of CCTV cameras known as the City Safe Network.

The network is managed through a partnership between South Australia Police and the
City of Adelaide.

The cameras, backend recording hardware and video management of the City Safe system have reached end of life and need to be replaced for public safety.

Through August to October 2021, the City of Adelaide conducted an open tender for a suitable supplier for the replacement of the City Safe CCTV network.

At its meeting of 9 November 2021, Council resolved to write to SAPOL regarding its opposition to the use of facial recognition technology in the updated City Safe Network.

As per this resolution, the final purchase has specifically excluded the necessary backend hardware or software licences required to enable facial recognition across the City Safe Network.

Therefore, facial recognition technology will not be functional to users of the City Safe Network.

To reiterate this position, a Special Council meeting was also held on Tuesday 21 June 2022 which resolved:

That Council:

1. Notes that the City of Adelaide has neither procured nor purchased the necessary backend hardware or software licences required to enable facial recognition across the City Safe CCTV Network, in accordance with the Council decision of 9 November 2021.

2. Will not fund, procure nor purchase the necessary backend hardware or software.

We will continue to work closely with SA Police to keep our city and its residents, workers and visitors safe.

Sandy Verschoor
Lord Mayor

Matthew Halliwell