Police are notorious for confiscating cameras and footage of their conduct, regardless of what local statutes or the Constitution say. Now the ACLU has created an app for Droids that lets users record secretly and back it up off site instantly:
Raw Story— Called “Police Tape,” the ACLU-NJ’s app builds on work done by OpenWatch.net with their “Cop Recorder” and “OpenWatch Recorder” programs, which essentially carry out the same functions, albeit in less polished form. ACLU-NJ’s release adds even more helpful content, like legal advice on citizens’ rights during police encounters.
“This app provides an essential tool for police accountability,” ACLU-NJ Executive Director Deborah Jacobs said in an advisory. “Too often incidents of serious misconduct go unreported because citizens don’t feel that they will be believed. Here, the technology empowers citizens to place a check on police power directly.”
That’s a fantastic idea. Will be very useful for protesters, I imagine.
I love how the ap records to a remote server. Too many times the cop physically takes the recording device & doesn’t return it or wipes the content.
You know that if they tried to submit an iPhone app Apple would never allow it.
I’m picturing the dialog: “Are you sure you want to do that? I’m still recording. All your actions will be evidence in court, with color & sound.”