Axis survey: 58% more comfortable with video surveillance

Nearly six in ten US consumers say they are more comfortable with video surveillance than five years ago, but privacy, transparency and concerns over AI accuracy remain important conditions for public acceptance.

According to the 2026 Public Perception of Video Surveillance survey released by Axis Communications, 58% of respondents said they are now more comfortable with video surveillance than five years ago. Only 11% said they had become less comfortable.

58% of US consumers say they are more comfortable with video surveillance than five years ago, while only 11% say they are less comfortable.

Awareness is also high. Some 70% of respondents said they were extremely or very aware of video surveillance systems in public spaces.

Acceptance also varies by location. Some 78% were comfortable with surveillance in transit hubs. The figure was 77% for retail stores and shopping centers and 73% for educational campuses. Workplaces recorded the lowest level among the locations highlighted, at 63%.

Privacy remains central to public trust

Greater acceptance still comes with conditions. When asked what would increase their comfort, 64% of respondents pointed to knowing that surveillance was used solely for safety purposes. Clear signage was cited by 59%, while 51% selected strong data privacy protections.

The research also examined attitudes toward AI-enabled surveillance. Respondents were most comfortable with AI used for real-time threat detection. This included detecting weapons, suspicious objects and unusual behavior. Some law-enforcement and automated identity verification uses also received broad support.

Privacy still matters: 51% want stronger data protections, while 59% say clear signage would make them more comfortable with surveillance.

However, 66% were concerned about false positives or inaccurate information from AI systems, while the same share cited the potential misuse or mishandling of collected information.

Fredrik Nilsson, Vice President, Americas at Axis Communications, said growing acceptance should not be taken for granted, arguing that vendors and organizations need to demonstrate clear purposes for surveillance and provide appropriate privacy safeguards.

The survey was conducted by a third-party provider in July 2026 and included more than 1,000 adults across the United States.