Boston police seem a bit overzealous in protecting their activities from being recorded. Cell phone users recording video or audio of the police using excessive force in their arrests are being arrested. The police are charging these concerned citizens with illegal surveillance.
Arrested for recording police activity
Massachusetts is one of 12 states that has passed the “two party consent” law. The law states that all parties to a conversation must agree to be recorded on a telephone or other audio device. While this seems to be a reasonable way to control paparazzi and the invasion of privacy, it also seems to be a grand excuse for the police to hide behind.
Ever since the famous police beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles, police activities have been watched a lot more closely. Arresting people who record these incidents is making a huge statement that we are living in a police state. Perhaps instead of worrying about being recorded, the police ought to train their officers not to use excessive force.
Worried the recordings will show up on YouTube, the police have become cyber Nazis. Luckily only 25% of our states have implemented this kind of law. We should work to rescind the laws in the 12 existing states with these laws. At the very least we should reshape the laws to exclude arrest.
Freedom to the people! Freedom to have information! Freedom! What’s your take?
