Judge limits New York police surveillance practices

Sure, we're all well aware that surveillance practices have been ratcheted up a notch or two since six or so years ago, but a judge in Manhattan has recently rebutted his own go-ahead from four years back to give the NYPD "greater authority to investigate political, social and religious groups." The most recent ruling states that by "videotaping people who were exercising their right to free speech and breaking no laws," the cops had ignored the milder limits he had imposed on it in 2003, seemingly squirming out from under his own misjudgments and placing the blame elsewhere. Nevertheless, he was clear that the voyeuristic limits only applied at events where people gather to exercise their rights under the First Amendment, while bridges, tunnels, airports, subways, and street traffic points could maintain their current level of surveillance -- and we thought this would mean those lamppost cameras couldn't pick us off whilst crossing the street with our iPod jamming.

[Via BoingBoing]

[Frank @ Feb 19th 2007 2:57AM]

freedom has to have limits its getting too technical

[Matt @ Feb 19th 2007 3:54AM]

if your not doing anything wrong who cares if your being videotaped... and if you are doing something wrong and your dumb enough to do it where you are being videotaped then you deserve to get caught..

[Raz @ Feb 19th 2007 6:17AM]

Er Matt that's not the point. Yes you are right, but it's the concern due to the commonality that although you're not doing anything wrong, you're assumed to be doing something wrong by being watched, then due to bad planning and ignorance you're accused of something you have no relation to. Happens all the time, wrongful arrests due to seeing someone carrying a book someone takes a dislike to etc, just pushes it one step further. Have data will use it.

On the plus side if you're standing up for parking rights, they could add you to a mailing list for parking updates - freedom of speech marketing (hmm.. I should patent that one)

[El N @ Feb 19th 2007 9:12AM]

There is a new documentary about video surveillance (CCTV) in Britain coming out, and this time, the topic seems to be covered in a more critical way. There's a trailer online:

http://www.EveryStepYouTake.org

[Jim @ Feb 19th 2007 1:02PM]

I find it curious at home paranoid some people must be.
A private citizen can videotape anyone, anywhere, yet the police cant?
Do you really think that law enforcement cares what the normal citizen is doing?

[Je2037 @ Feb 20th 2007 11:08AM]

The point is, if camera's end up being everywhere, then you feel forced look and act like a 'normal citizen', or you'll be considered 'suspicious'. Do you really want video's of you being reviewed by some dudes in a room miles away, with you completely unaware? Does anyone want that?