Atlanta Police Now Have Access to Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza Cameras

The Atlanta Police Department has been given access to over 200 security cameras in operation at Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square malls in Buckhead.

Businesses which operate inside the malls are now directly tied in to the city’s 911 center now that the cameras are being monitored by police, WABE radio reports. Police have access to around 5,700 privately-operated security cameras and are looking to get access to 10,000 such cameras by 2017.

Privacy advocates are concerned about the move, saying that since security cameras are usually installed in high-crime and poverty areas, those with a lower socioeconomic status will be constantly monitored by authorities. Businesses could also cross-reference facial recognition software with police databases to refuse entry to criminals despite them not committing any offenses at the business, advocates tell WABE.

Police-controlled security cameras have their tapes wiped every two weeks; the Atlanta Police Foundation tells WABE that it wants to be able to prevent the next Sandy Hook or Aurora theatre shooting by using the cameras as a deterrent.