SF Police Demand Access to Private Security Footage
The proposal has the support of Brooke Jenkins, the interim district attorney who replaced Chesa Boudin in June. Civil rights advocates warn that the policy may erode city residents’ privacy.
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San Francisco, Calif., police have proposed a new policy that would extend to the department broad access to privately owned cameras across the city, Axios reports. With the exception of life-threatening circumstances, existing laws in the city require that agencies request approval from supervisors before using new surveillance tech. The proposal has the support of Brooke Jenkins, the interim district attorney who replaced Chesa Boudin in June.
Civil rights advocates warn that the policy may erode city residents’ privacy and affect the rights of protesters. Saira Hussain of the Electronic Frontier Foundation pointed to a recent poll of San Franciscans that found that 60 percent opposed the proposal and 42 percent strongly opposed it. Police pointed to a rise in crime as a justification for expanding surveillance, but that perception is not wholly accurate. Despite increases in specific categories, most crime is returning to pre-pandemic levels and most violent crime remains at a historic low.
