safety
SFPD drone livestreams exposed operations online for months, investigation shows
By Cameron Bopp at ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC)
· July 14, 2026
· 1 min read
A WIRED investigation found that live feeds from SFPD drones were accessible online for months through an improperly secured web link, allowing anyone with the address to watch police operations as they unfolded.
Why this matters in The San Francisco
The exposure of SFPD drone livestreams online for months raises significant concerns about the department's handling of sensitive information and potential compromises to ongoing investigations. This breach may have allowed individuals to gather intelligence on police tactics and strategies, potentially jeopardizing officer safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement operations. Given San Francisco 's history of high-profile protests and demonstrations, the fact that anyone could access these live feeds in real-time is particularly troubling. The city's residents and visitors expect a certain level of protection and discretion from their police department, and this incident may erode trust in the SFPD's ability to maintain confidentiality. As the investigation into this matter continues, San Francisco officials must take a hard look at the department's cybersecurity protocols and ensure that such a lapse never happens again.
About this story
Original reporting by ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 14, 2026 ·
Source: ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A WIRED investigation found that live feeds from SFPD drones were accessible online for months through an improperly secured web link, allowing anyone with the address to watch police operations as they unfolded.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 14, 2026 by ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Cameron Bopp at ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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