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Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by guelo on Friday May 18, 2012 @10:59PM (#3994977)
In Oakland all police officers are equipped with lapel cameras. But having been involved in Occupy Oakland's legal and anti-repression work what we have found is that since police have discretion as to when they can turn the devices on and off and when to upload, the video always seems to be mysteriously missing whenever defense lawyers request it. The officer will say that they forgot to turn it on or that it malfunctioned. If there is an instance of a protestor throwing a bottle that video is always available and is splashed all over the press.
Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by crusso on Saturday May 19, 2012 @08:09AM (#3995759)
The cameras should be required to be on in order for the officer to do anything "in the line of duty". Furthermore, they should broadcast a wifi feed of what they're seeing in real time so that anyone can have a "listener" running nearby to capture it. You could have a listener in your car, at your apartment, or running on your iPhone. There should be a listener in the police car that instantly uploads the feed to a server managed by an agency that is totally independent from the police department.

Camera always on. Everyone gets an immediate copy.

Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by dodo53 on Saturday May 19, 2012 @08:42AM (#3995813)
that would be pretty handy for actual criminals
Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by ori_b on Saturday May 19, 2012 @02:33PM (#3996627)
As well as a way to find out things that should be private into something public.

As far as I'm concerned, these records should only be unsealed, and made available for court proceedings. Accountability is important, but so is privacy.

Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by crusso on Saturday May 19, 2012 @10:38AM (#3995996)
Ha, good point. Okay, well amend my brainstorming to just being a live feed that goes to an independent agency that can make the video available at a later date.
Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by fffggg on Saturday May 19, 2012 @01:09PM (#3996396)
Yes, all that's needed is for it to become available to subpoena and other lawful process.
Re:Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional... by jjcm on Saturday May 19, 2012 @09:50AM (#3995911)
Disagree on the immediate copy. Perhaps a few hours delay. A live feed would be too valuable for evading police.