Seattle council greenlights digital kiosks on city streets
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A kiosk by the same manufacturer, shown on a street in Cincinnati. Photo courtesy of Orange Barrel Media
Dozens of digital kiosks are slated to appear across downtown Seattle early next year, after the City Council granted final approval for their installation this week.
Why it matters: The interactive kiosks — each more than 8 feet tall and more than 3 feet wide — will offer information about local events and attractions, alongside a heavy dose of advertising.
The latest: Mayor Bruce Harrell is expected to sign off on the plan, which he supported in a news release this week. That would greenlight the Downtown Seattle Association to begin installing the kiosks in public spaces.
By the numbers: Thirty kiosks are planned for the business district between Denny Way and Pioneer Square, with installation expected to wrap by next summer — just in time for Seattle to host six FIFA World Cup matches.
- Another 30 kiosks may later go up downtown.
- Twenty more could be installed across business hubs in West Seattle, SoDo, Ballard and the University District.
Follow the money: The first wave of kiosks is expected to generate about $1.1 million annually in advertising revenue, which the Downtown Seattle Association plans to use for downtown improvement projects. Additional revenue would go to the city.
Yes, but: Privacy advocates have raised concerns that the devices, which include cameras, could eventually be used to record or track passersby.
- The City Council's ordinance bans the kiosks from taking photographs or video, except for a user-operated selfie booth feature. Those images wouldn't be retained, the ordinance says.
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