Brickbat: Prying Eyes

Former Florissant, Missouri, police officer Julian Alcala pleaded guilty to 20 felony counts after stealing intimate photos and videos from the phones of women he pulled over during traffic stops. Prosecutors say Alcala allegedly stopped women for minor traffic or vehicle-document checks, took their phones under the pretense of checking insurance or registration, and then searched their photo albums, copying or forwarding nude images and videos to his own device. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than three years in prison.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Dude, the internet exists.

[Vernon Depner]

Why would you have nude pictures of yourself on your phone? That seems stupid.

[mad.casual]

Dude, did you see the length of the skirt she took pics of herself not wearing and then handed the device she used to take the pics of herself over to him?

Somewhat tangentially; ENB occasionally makes the argument (or used to) that porn effectively tamps down rape numbers (as part of the larger 'sex work is work' narrative). There's an analogous objective case to be made that State IDs should be full-body nudes. I continue to be moderately surprised that there's no State-run regime that effectively does this.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Why would you hand your phone to a cop?

[Rossami]

Because you're too lazy to print out your proof of insurance and think that relying on the copy saved onto your phone is adequate.

[Vernon Depner]

So he can download your nudes?

[Liberty_Belle]

In one instance of this kind of behavior, the cop would just forward the images to his phone from yours. This leaves a trail, which is how that guy got caught.

Some people are smarter and have a usb-c cord to copy to a laptop or the police car computer. If the phone was already unlocked to view the insurance info, you are basically handing raw access to a stranger who can look anywhere they want from the comfort of the patrol car.

Lesson: Don't be dumb/lazy. Just print the paper card and keep it in your purse/wallet. Low tech works.

[Longtobefree]

20 felonies.
3 yrs.
equal justice?

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Some people are more equal than others.

[mad.casual]

If ICE, inner-city DA, and "zero bail experiment" claims are even remotely true, 3 yrs. for 20 felonies without killing or actually raping anyone is exceedingly law abiding.

Maybe just fire and deport him.

[Liberty_Belle]

Sending racy photos / vids to your boyfriend/spouse is a favorite "naughty" act of a lot of young women. There is a baked in assumption that what's on your phone is private and couldn't possibly be breached by hackers, bored service tech guys, cops who should be more moral than the average person, and or any random joker who steals your phone. People think passwords are Fort Knox instead of being a minor inconvenience to someone dedicated with time on their hands.

Remember, hardly anybody does anything with the thought that it can bite them in the butt; everyone thinks they are immune to consequences.

[AT]

took their phones under the pretense of checking insurance or registration

This seems like a Millennial/Zoomer problem.

Just carry the paper copy in your glove box like a normal human being. What the hell is wrong with these kids.