Thursday, April 18, 2013

Photography & Surveillance: Are Cameras the New Guns?

Like many of the other students, this article angered me. I had heard of these laws before but reading the details again made me just as angry as the first time I had heard about it. Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland are three of 12 states in which all parties must consent to being filmed, as stated in the article."Recordings that are flattering to the police - an officer kissing a baby or rescuing a dog - will almost certainly not result in prosecution even if they are done without all-party consent," this statement from the article could not be more true. I remember seeing a video online taken by a civilian of a police officer in his car driving & texting & also at some points speaking on the phone. The state it was taken in (I can't remember which state it was" does not have the restrictive photography laws, but the cop pulled him over to question him as if he were some sort of criminal when it was the police officer was the one doing something dangerous & illegal. They do not want us to see the corruption that runs deep law enforcement. As noted in this piece, officers who abuse their power have been brought to justice by civilian recordings. Photography is a threat to their corruptions and abuses & I sincerely hope that this law will not become a federal mandate.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

When it comes to photos of cops or other people of authority there definately is a double standard. Recordings that are flattering to the police an officer kissing a baby or rescuing a dog will almost certainly not result in prosecution even if they are done without all-party consent," But if a cop is seen doing something stupid or morally wrong it is illegally. People will not follow or listen to cops if they are scene doing something morally wrong. This is a major problem in our society.