NoPanopticon

Real-time crime centers (RTCCs) are physical operations centers—usually staffed around the clock—where analysts watch live camera feeds and respond to automated alerts. "Fusion platform" refers to the software layer that aggregates data from multiple vendors and systems (ALPR, fixed cameras, BWC, gunshot detection, 911 calls, criminal databases) into a single map interface.

RTCCs are typically funded by federal grants (DOJ, DHS) and built in partnership with vendors who also sell the cameras and sensors that feed into them. Once built, the platform becomes the hub of a city's surveillance infrastructure, creating strong vendor lock-in.

A key feature is integration with private cameras: businesses, schools, transit agencies, and individual homeowners can register their cameras with the RTCC. Police can then request or receive direct live feeds from thousands of private cameras without a warrant.

Fusion platforms make surveillance greater than the sum of its parts. A license plate hit, a face match from a nearby camera, a gunshot alert, and social media posts can all be correlated in seconds. That capability—even if rarely used—changes the relationship between residents and their government.

Data collected through RTCCs is routinely shared with state and federal fusion centers, which in turn share with ICE, FBI, and other agencies. Local sanctuary policies that prohibit police from asking about immigration status do not prevent ALPR or camera data from flowing to federal agencies through fusion center channels. RTCCs would similarly be a key infrastructure for tracking abortion-related travel if states pursue criminal enforcement.

• Fusus (Axon) – leading RTCC platform; ingests public and private camera feeds, ALPR, gunshot detection; acquired by Axon in 2023, deepening vertical integration
• Flock Safety FlockOS / TALON – RTCC software bundled with Flock ALPR subscriptions; shared plate database accessible to all Flock customers
• Genetec Security Center – unified VMS and ALPR platform with RTCC and city-wide deployment capabilities
• Motorola Solutions CommandCentral – CAD (computer-aided dispatch), records management, and situational awareness suite; integrates with Vigilant ALPR and Avigilon cameras
• Palantir Gotham – data fusion and predictive analytics platform used by federal agencies and some large city police departments; correlates surveillance data with criminal records, social media, and financial data
• ShotSpotter (SoundThinking) – acoustic gunshot detection; alerts appear in RTCC dashboards and trigger camera panning and ALPR cross-checks
• Peregrine – ALPR and analytics integrated with RTCC deployments