Camera Power
Proof, Policing, Privacy, and Audiovisual Big Data

This is the first book on the policy questions raised by two revolutions in recording the police - copwatching and police-worn body cameras. 

Mary D. Fan (Author)

9781108407540, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 May 2019

274 pages, 22 b/w illus. 14 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.3 cm, 0.46 kg

'Body cameras on cops seemed like the obvious solution to social turmoil around policing. But as Mary D. Fan makes clear in this tour de force, police body cameras create huge problems of their own - the cost of storage, everyone's privacy at risk from constant surveillance. Comprehensively researched and engagingly written, this will become the go to book for anyone who cares about police, public surveillance, and privacy.' Barry Friedman, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law, New York University, Director of the Policing Project, and author of Unwarranted: Policing without Permission

Camera Power is the first book to tackle the policy questions raised by two ongoing revolutions in recording the police: copwatching and police-worn body cameras. Drawing on original research from over 200 jurisdictions and more than 100 interviews - with police leaders and officers, copwatchers, community members, civil rights and civil liberties experts, industry leaders, and technologists - Mary D. Fan offers a vision of the great potential and perils of the growing deluge of audiovisual big data. In contrast to the customary portrayal of big data mining as a threat to civil liberties, Camera Power describes how audiovisual big data analytics can better protect civil rights and liberties and prevent violence in police encounters. With compelling stories and coverage of the most important debates over privacy, public disclosure, proof, and police regulation, this book should be read by anyone interested in how technology is reshaping the relationship with our police.

Introduction: dual revolutions in recording the police
Part I. Toutveillance Power and Police Control: 1. Policing in the camera cultural revolution
2. Copwatching and the right to record
3. Democratizing proof, taking the case to the people
Part II. Audiovisual Big Data's Great Potential and Perils: 4. Audiovisual big data analytics and harm prevention
5. Partisan perceptions: how audiovisual evidence and big data can mislead
6. Privacy and public disclosure
Part III. Frameworks for Moving Forward: 7. Controlled access, privacy protection planning, and data retention
8. Non-recording and officer monitoring and discipline dilemmas
Conclusion. Beyond technological silver bullets.

Subject Areas: Criminal law & procedure [LNF], E-commerce law [LNCB2], Criminology: legal aspects [LAR], Comparative law [LAM], Sociology: work & labour [JHBL]