Schneier on Security: Recording the Police

I've always believed that it should be legal to audio and/or video record any government employee/contractor during the performance of their official duties (and I say that as a govt contractor). If we can't be accountable to the public, how can we expect to serve the public?

If this is something of interest to you, join your local CopWatch organization. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copwatch" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copwatch</a><p>Bruce is absolutely right: if nobody watches the watchmen, you can only expect trouble... filming police prevents things like this: <a href="http://www.gifbin.com/bin/112009/1258398254_police-brutality.gif" rel="nofollow">http://www.gifbin.com/bin/112009/1258398254_police-brutality...</a> and this: <a href="http://www.gifbin.com/bin/1238065175_cop-pushes-biker.gif" rel="nofollow">http://www.gifbin.com/bin/1238065175_cop-pushes-biker.gif</a>

Can anyone explain the argument <i>against</i> the legality/morality of videotaping a police officer performing their official duties?

Hey Mr. Policeman, if you're not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

<i>"... This is all important. Being able to record the police is one of the best ways to ensure that the police are held accountable for their actions. ..."</i><p>It's not only Police. In the local news today it's <i>"ticket inspectors"</i> using unreasonable force: <i>"Brouwer says too much force not the ticket"</i> [0] ~ <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/brouwer-says-too-much-force-not-the-ticket-20101221-194ij.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/brouwer-says-too-much-forc...</a><p>[0] The Age, Nick McKenzie 2010DEC22

<i>"... The lawyer leading the class action said some people who watched footage of the incidents dubbed the city watchhouse ''Canberra's Abu Ghraib'', in reference to the Baghdad prison where US military personnel abused Iraqi prisoners. ..."</i><p>In todays news.<p><i>"Ex-police officers accused of torture"</i> (The Age, Jenna Hand, 2010DEC24) ~ <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/national/expolice-officers-accused-of-torture-20101223-196l6.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.theage.com.au/national/expolice-officers-accused-...</a>

In the case of recording police can they really have any expectation of privacy when anything they do in the course of their duties may be examined in a court of law? I should think that would remove any expectation they had legally speaking. IANAL so if any lawyers feel like answering I would be curious to hear their opinion.

Bruce! Please get a new portrait photo!