Re: If it moves, we can track it!

From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Fri Oct 18 2002 - 20:14:54 MDT


On Fri, 18 Oct 2002, Jeff Davis wrote:

> --- Samantha Atkins <samantha@objectent.com> (maybe) wrote:
>
> > In practice cops confiscate cameras and slap on
> > extra criminal charges that are upheld by the courts.
> > It is actually illegal to film "public" officials
> > acting in their "public" capacity in many circumstances.

Can we get a citation or two on this? I would expect it to
be a violation of my freedom of speech rights. The only
exception I can think of is restrictions on filming government
buildings that I think came up in WA last year.
(These were non "national security" buildings but happened at
the height of the 911 paranoia. And the confiscation of
the camera did cause quite a bit of noise.)

> If enough people break this law then it ceases to
> achieve its corruption-protecting purpose, and the
> corruption *may* face the challenge that finally beats
> it.

Ah but what about "ubiquitous" surveillance? I'm watching
my property for intruders and a cop pulls from their car
and mistreats someone on the street in the same camera view?

Its going to require some really strange changes in the
laws for the cops to get my tape or for it not to be
used as evidence in court (at least in the U.S.).
Obviously automated heat detecting/motion sensing cameras
would be even more likely to detect such situations.
This might only work well in relatively dense cities of course.

Robert



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