| Android App Lets Users Secretly Record Police Misconduct ACLU’s new Android app lets users secretly record police misconduct:
A new Android application released by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) and OpenWatch.net allows users to secretly record police encounters and automatically save their recordings to a public website for all to see.
Called “Police Tape,” the ACLU-NJ’s app builds on work done by OpenWatch.net with their “Cop Recorder” and “OpenWatch Recorder” programs, which essentially carry out the same functions, albeit in less polished form. ACLU-NJ’s release adds even more helpful content, like legal advice on citizens’ rights during police encounters.
“This app provides an essential tool for police accountability,” ACLU-NJ Executive Director Deborah Jacobs said in an advisory. “Too often incidents of serious misconduct go unreported because citizens don’t feel that they will be believed. Here, the technology empowers citizens to place a check on police power directly.”
While the “Police Tape” app is currently available to all Android users, ACLU-NJ recommends that only New Jersey residents use it due to certain states still having a problem with citizens recording police in public. The app’s terms and conditions also recommend that users consult an attorney before publishing any recordings online.
A version of the app for iOS devices was still awaiting approval from Apple.
“Historically, vivid images of police mistreating citizens have seared our public consciousness and in some cases spurred important changes,” ACLU-NJ Policy Counsel Alexander Shalom explained. “Photos and video are critical to ensuring police accountability and police should know that the eyes of the public are on them at all times.” |
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 Name GamePremium
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North Myrtle Beach, SC
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»www.aclu.org/free-speech/you-hav···raph-cop |
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| reply to FF4m3
Which is creepier - the police, the ACLU, or all the folks who use this program for their own purposes. Hmmmmmm .... |
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Name GamePremium
join:2002-07-07
North Myrtle Beach, SC
kudos:7 | said by goalieskates:Which is creepier - the police, the ACLU, or all the folks who use this program for their own purposes. Hmmmmmm ....
Don't use it in Canada..they will track you down in a high speed chase through sleet and snow  |
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 Rocky67Pencil Neck GeekPremium
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said by goalieskates:Which is creepier - the police, the ACLU, or all the folks who use this program for their own purposes. Hmmmmmm ....
The police, hands down. At least the ALCU isn't a heavily-armed paramilitary organization. When was the last time you heard about a group of ACLU members beating the snot out of a homeless guy or kicking in the door to the wrong house and terrorizing an innocent family? Also, I don't understand how a person could use the app for anything but their own purposes.
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Name GamePremium
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kudos:7 | said by Rocky67:said by goalieskates:Which is creepier - the police, the ACLU, or all the folks who use this program for their own purposes. Hmmmmmm ....
The police, hands down. At least the ALCU isn't a heavily-armed paramilitary organization. When was the last time you heard about a group of ACLU members beating the snot out of a homeless guy or kicking in the door to the wrong house and terrorizing an innocent family? Also, I don't understand how a person could use the app for anything but their own purposes.
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| reply to FF4m3
I don't understand what this means.
It was my understanding that if you record audio, and it's a two party consent state, you could be charged under wiretapping laws.
And in all states, they could charge you with interfering with a public official...
So what is the "problem" and why would only NJ be exempt from it? |
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Rocky67Pencil Neck GeekPremium
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| reply to Name Game
said by Name Game:said by goalieskates:Which is creepier - the police, the ACLU, or all the folks who use this program for their own purposes. Hmmmmmm ....
Don't use it in Canada..they will track you down in a high speed chase through sleet and snow That's the funniest video I've seen in a long time.
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 El QuintronResident Mouth BreatherPremium
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| reply to FF4m3
How is this any different from recording the police and uploading it to any video sharing website?
The technological bar might be lower with this app, but the intent is the same.
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| reply to red2
Actually you are wrong.
In MOST States, it is LEGAL to photograph and/or videotape police officers out in public while they are acting in their offical capacities since there is NO EXPECTATION of Privacy in those situations.
However, a few states have passed laws making this illegal (Illinois is one) under wiretap laws. Those JBT states have decided that having the public watch the police is a bad thing.
I'm in California and it is totally LEGAL to film or photograph police in public with or without their approval. They may not like it but corrupt thugs doing illegal things usually don't like being watched. |
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Name GamePremium
join:2002-07-07
North Myrtle Beach, SC
kudos:7 | reply to FF4m3
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| reply to Sniper3142
said by Sniper3142:Actually you are wrong.
In MOST States, it is LEGAL to photograph and/or videotape police officers out in public while they are acting in their offical capacities since there is NO EXPECTATION of Privacy in those situations.
However, a few states have passed laws making this illegal (Illinois is one) under wiretap laws. Those JBT states have decided that having the public watch the police is a bad thing.
I'm in California and it is totally LEGAL to film or photograph police in public with or without their approval. They may not like it but corrupt thugs doing illegal things usually don't like being watched.
Sorry, I don't think we understand each other.
ALL of the actions we are talking about are in public so there is NEVER an expectation of privacy. However, that is NOT what creates the issue for those filming police officers.
There is nothing that I have heard of that makes it specifically illegal to video police officers. If you know of a specific law in ANY state, please cite it.
Second, I have never heard of states passing a NEW law that relates to wiretap laws, which are rather old laws. Rather, the individual states have decided to INVOKE these old wiretap laws when audio was recorded. If you record video, there is no wiretapping. So the police arrest you and it is the district attorney's office that decides if they feel there are grounds to prosecute, which they will most likely agree to when it shows their fellow state officials in a bad light. The easiest law to invoke would be the wiretapping law when consent was not given in a two party consent state. (A law which varies form state to state.)
Third, the police in every state can charge someone with obstruction of justice, interfering with a police officer in the act of performing his official duties, or even with loitering if they tell you to move on and you don't obey. Again, these are not so much laws that pertain to the specific act of videotaping but the invoking of laws (which the DA's office would have to uphold) to harass and prevent individuals from filming.
So my questions are:
What would make this device different than any other (be it a video camera, a cell phone, etc.)?
What would make NJ exempt from such interpretations of the law? Something in the NJ code that specifically grants you the right to video police officers? |
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