While you’re watching the World Cup, the feds may be watching you

US cities hosting the World Cup, including Kansas City and New York, have been increasing surveillance capabilities ahead of the tournament. Washington, DC, is also heightening security for major summer events tied to America250 and Fourth of July celebrations.

The buildup reflects how mega-events increasingly serve as catalysts for expanded public surveillance infrastructure. These systems may improve crowd security, but they also raise concerns about long-term normalization of monitoring in cities after the events end.