Eagle Eye Networks has launched Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing, which gives 911 emergency communication centre telecommunicators instant access to security cameras during an emergency.

“In a crisis when seconds count, a security camera can provide vital visual information—giving first responders the situational awareness they need to assess and thoughtfully approach a dangerous situation,” said Dean Drako, Eagle Eye Networks CEO.

The technology is in partnership with RapidSOS, which Eagle Eye Networks claims directly and securely links life-saving data from more than 540 million connected devices, apps, and sensors to over 16,000 911 and field responder agencies covering 99% of the U.S. population.

Today, security cameras are ubiquitous at schools and businesses, but 911 telecommunicators typically cannot access them in an emergency.

With the introduction of Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing, 911 telecommunicators can now instantly access live video from one or multiple security cameras when a 911-triggered emergency occurs. 

This is how Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing works: 

• The school or business predetermines which cameras are shareable via Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing.
• A 911 call triggers an alert that enables Emergency Communication Centre telecommunicators to instantly view footage from cameras at or near the crime scene. Video may be available from multiple sources, including any businesses in close proximity to the crime scene.
• The 911 telecommunicator can use the security cameras for situational awareness and to inform first responders.

Some of the first organisations to adopt Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing include schools and universities, retail outlets, facilities with lone workers, and businesses that may be unstaffed at certain hours of the day such as 24-hour gyms. 

According to Eagle Eye Networks, the benefits of Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing include:

• Predetermined camera access: Only the cameras that a business or school predetermines will be shared in an emergency
• Privacy protection: Camera video is only accessible during a 911 emergency. The Emergency Communication Center cannot retrieve, save, or view video after the emergency 
• Password protection: There is no need to share individual IP addresses or NVR/DVR/camera logins with the Emergency Communication Center
• Bank-level cybersecurity: Eagle Eye Networks cloud-based video surveillance platform employs the highest cybersecurity standards to ensure video data is encrypted and securely transmitted  
• Audit Log: Any video accessed by 911 telecommunicators is tracked in the Eagle Eye VMS Audit Log

Schools and businesses do not have to be current customers of Eagle Eye Networks to take advantage of this technology, as this feature is also available to non-Eagle Eye Cloud VMS customers as Eagle Eye 911 Public Safety Camera Sharing Complete.

For existing customers, Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing is available for a small per-camera fee and/or is included in the Professional and Enterprise Editions of the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS. Initially, the 911 camera sharing products will only be available in the United States.

“Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing is a product that reflects our commitment to enhancing public safety, and the founding principle of our company—making the world a safer place,” said Drako.

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