Cameras
Warrantless Use of License Plate Reader Cameras Is Unconstitutional
A new campaign pushes back against the widespread use of automatic license plate readers without warrants.
As Migrant Arrests and Deportations Increase, Remember You Have the Right To Record ICE
Law enforcement acts better when officers know the public is watching.
One-Third of Expensive Border Surveillance Towers Don't Work
Decades of border surveillance programs have spent billions of dollars but achieved little.
A 'Reformist' Legal Expert Calls for a Surveillance State
A lawyer who should know better wants to ignore the history of snooping cops to fight guns and crime.
Police Flew Drones Over One California City Nearly 20,000 Times in 6 Years
A WIRED investigation reveals the extent to which residents of Chula Vista are subjected to surveillance from the sky.
Colorado Will Replace Cops With Drones for Some 911 Calls
While drones are less likely to shoot or maim innocent civilians, they could also pose privacy issues.
Tennessee Appeals Court Rules Against Wildlife Agents Who Planted Cameras on Private Land
The three-judge panel concluded unanimously that while the state law at issue is constitutional, the wildlife agents' application of it was not.
Even If You Support Police, Don't Ban People From Recording Them
Filming cops is a First Amendment right, and there are already plenty of laws against harassing them.
In California and Elsewhere, Fear of Crime Drives the Surveillance State
Concerns about public safety will eventually recede, but Big Brother will still be watching.
San Francisco Police Spent 193 Hours Over 3 Months Watching Private Surveillance Footage
The surveillance yielded 49 arrests, of which 42 were for possession or sale of narcotics.
Amazon's Ring Will Stop Giving Police Your Doorbell Footage Without a Warrant
While not perfect, the move is a step in the right direction for civil liberties.
Is Facial Recognition a Useful Public Safety Tool or Something Sinister?
Your Face Belongs to Us documents how facial recognition might threaten our freedom.
The Cops Are Watching You
New online database details the shocking extent of intrusive surveillance tech used by American police.
'First Amendment Auditor' Sues NYPD Over Right To Record in Police Stations
SeanPaul Reyes has been arrested and threatened by NYPD for filming in public places, including inside police precincts. He says that's a violation of his First Amendment rights.
Virginia Wildlife Agents Came Onto His Land and Stole His Camera. Now He's Suing.
Eight weeks ago, a camouflaged game warden came onto Josh Highlander's land, scared his son, and stole his trail camera.
NYPD Claims It's Illegal To Film in a Police Station
A growing number of "First Amendment auditors" are testing the limits of what police will and will not allow them to film.
Yes, You Have a First Amendment Right To Livestream Cops
Plus: Some State of the Union fact checking, a livestream discussion about gun rights and violence, and more...
Cameras Should Stay in Place After the House Picks a Speaker
C-SPAN has shown House proceedings since 1979 but only what the House chooses to let it show. That needs to change.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams Wants You to Love Big Brother
A surveillance state is no less tyrannical when the snoops really believe it's for your own protection.
5 Louisiana Officers Indicted for Beating Motorist Ronald Greene to Death, Then Covering It Up
Credit the leaking of body camera footage to the press for helping force the matter.
California City Pays $300,000 to Marine Veteran Tackled for Filming a Cop From His Porch
The city of Vallejo, California, has paid millions in recent years to settle excessive force lawsuits against its heavy-handed police force.
Wildlife Agents Placed a Camera on His Property Without a Warrant, Then Raided His Home After He Removed It
How a Prohibition-era legal precedent allows warrantless surveillance on private property.
You Can Record Video of Police in Action. But Can You Livestream That Video?
Plus: Court rejects Biden plea on student loan plan, Ohio cops don't understand the First Amendment, and more...
Chicago's Red Light Cameras Keep Fueling Corruption Scandals
A state senator joins several local officials in federal indictments for taking bribes in exchange for contracts.
San Francisco Police Can Now Have Live Access to Nearly Any Camera in the City
A new ordinance passed by the city's Board of Supervisors allows police to request live access to private security cameras even for misdemeanor violations.
Police Can Access Your Ring Camera Footage Without a Warrant
After Amazon admitted it gives Ring footage to police departments upon "emergency" request, San Francisco Mayor London Breed wants cops to be able to access any camera at any time.
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The Cops Who Drew Guns and Forced an Innocent Family To Lie on the Pavement Were Dismayed by the Angry Response
After gratuitously terrifying a 6-year-old girl, the officers blamed her mother, who also had done nothing illegal.
The Trump Administration's $765 Million Kodak Deal Is More Proof That 'Economic Nationalism' Is a Scam
The Trump administration's "economic nationalist" agenda is little more than a cronyist attempt at propping up domestic companies with taxpayer cash.
We Filmed the Cops. People Changed Their Minds.
Videos of police abuse haven't stopped police brutality. But they've helped build a consensus for police reform.
Stossel: No Filming on Farms
Farm groups get politicians to pass laws against secret filming on farms.
The New York Times Built a Functioning Private Facial Recognition System
Should you be worried?
One Officer Asked Her To Record a Crash Scene With Her Phone. Another Officer Arrested Her for It.
Demetria Brown was handcuffed for helping police.
Bribery Convictions Won't Shut Off Chicago's Red Light Cameras
Former city commissioner gets 10 years for taking $2 million bribe, while Chicago made $285 million from red light cams last year.
How Local Anti-Violence Activists Brought the Alton Sterling Shooting Video to the Public
A group founded by a former gang member brought transparency to the shooting after officers' body cams "fell off."
Big Brother is Coming to a Music Festival Near You
Police in the U.K. and U.S. have used facial recognition technology on concertgoers.
FBI Director Blames 'Viral Videos' for Rising Murder Rates
James Comey says watched cops are not aggressive enough.
How Body Cameras Help Prevent Tragic Police Shootings #DedricColvin
"Everyone behaves better when they're on video."
Senseless Police Shooting of Zachary Hammond Results in $2.2 Million Settlement
The unarmed 19-year-old died because of a two-bit drug sting.
Cops Caught on Camera Eating Dispensary's Snack Bars Charged With Theft
Prosecutors say there was "no evidence" the bars contained cannabis.
Jury Acquits Woman Arrested for Protecting Her Dog From a Cop
Tiffanie Hupp was charged with obstructing an officer after standing between a state trooper and the dog he wanted to kill.
Camera-Shy Cops Can Relax
The exoneration of the officer who killed Zachary Hammond shows police have strong defenses against viral videos.
Our Police at Work: It's Not Public Property. It's State Property! And We'll Make Up a Reason We Bothered You to "Cover Our Ass"
Police are certainly not lacking for a nearly endless variety of petty reasons to harass and force money from you when you bother them by documenting their behavior.