#bodycameras — Public Fediverse posts

Reminder that the #SomervilleMA hearing on police #BodyCameras is *tonight* (September 8, 2026) at 6pm.

To testify at the hearing, sign up for the Zoom meeting using the link below, and then after you join the meeting, raise your hand when the hearing begins.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WRdRHrGRTFC7GZuN1__1VA#/registration

#policing #surveillance #MAPol

The group that I've been organizing with on police body cameras in Somerville just put out an update on where things sit, including the call-to-action with regard to Tuesday's hearing.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQrFlvLo_07XvQRMCu7cOk8Y2xXDWDTEXvS6MEKHFp1iub7uPiMq2JUOxqonE2jXmyvLdKmr1ign-Qg/pub

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #BodyCameras #MAPol

Democrats Pass Anti-Flock Camera Bill Mandating All Flock Devices Wear Body Cameras

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://thehardtimes.net/culture/democrats-pass-anti-flock-camera-bill-mandating-all-flock-devices-wear-body-cameras/

The good news for Somerville is that although council has approved the purchase and deployment of police #BodyCameras, the cameras will only be worn by superior officers at this time. The patrol officers, who come into highest contact with the public, must agree to the same terms before they will begin wearing cameras.

The program is still very expensive, but this does mean that there's still time to insist that civilian oversight must come *first*.

#MAPol #surveillance #SomervilleMA

The critical importance of good policy on police body cameras is made extremely clear following recent events in #CambridgeMA. On August 21, the Cambridge Police Department, who already have body cameras, fatally shot 64-year-old William Woodworth near Central Square.

Woodworth's family are fighting hard to get access to the body camera footage, but the District Attorney is insisting that the footage not be released yet.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/28/metro/cambridge-body-cam-footage/

#BodyCameras #surveillance #policing #MAPol

ICE Says It Will Fit Every Officer With A Body Cam, Restrict Public Access To Recordings

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/20/ice-says-it-will-fit-every-officer-with-a-body-cam-restrict-public-access-to-recordings/

#ICE Agents to Wear #BodyCameras But the Fix is In

The technology appears unlikely to constrain the #immigration agencies; much more sweeping reforms are needed

> my guess is they only allow access to the footage when it supports them
#privacy

https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/ice-agents-to-wear-body-cameras-but-the-fix-is-in

Axon Insists Its AI Makes Police Reports Easier. Nothing Suggests It Makes Them Any *Better*

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/07/30/axon-insists-its-ai-makes-police-reports-easier-nothing-suggests-it-makes-them-any-better/

Commentary on the #SomervilleMA police #bodyCameras situation, and what the Mayor might be trying to do, from Chris Dwan:
https://csindie.com/somervilles-mayor-is-forcing-a-special-council-meeting-to-vote-on-body-worn-cameras/

#surveillance #policing #MAPol #legislativeProcess

Here is a generic-language version of the email I just sent to #Somerville Council about police #bodycameras for the 12pm deadline.
https://sandstorm.appux.com/shared/lGlNKXBAaxeBW0-1FUCMihCp9r-K3h6HryHO2vNa4oa

If you are delivering public comment tonight, feel free to adapt ideas in there. It's a complicated issue, and I know that concerns differ.

#SomervilleMA #MAPol #surveillance #policing #privacy

Some folks from the #Somerville DSA group put together these slides with tips on how to prepare public comment for the Special Meeting on #bodycameras tomorrow.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xmdAuHLzOOFhmdxZE3nWoZ7SveOiNW2mstvn7xPvr6Q/edit?usp=sharing

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #MAPol

Update: On July 23rd, the Mayor introduced a new version of the STIR and TSSUP for police #bodycameras in #Somerville. The new documents clarify a number of policy points, but don't substantively address the concerns we've highlighted in our toolkit above.

#surveillance #policing #MAPol #SomervilleMA #privacy

Madison Police Shooting Lacks Body Camera Footage, Sparks Debate on Accountability

📰 Original title: There's No Bodycam Footage Of Fatal Madison Police Shooting

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Users: It's not clickbait ✅

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/madison-police-shooting-lacks-body-camera-footage-sparks-debate-on-accountability.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#justice #policeaccountability #bodycameras #madisonwisconsin

We're asking #Somerville residents concerned about the rushed process on body camera policy to attend the special meeting on July 27th to insist on proper deliberation.

We have an action toolkit here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ8FOlm5fCo7-s3jubaDq79i0hHhamUw-o7DTxcLpo4GaBwuGvBNPiZy-d_RB6gvKmh6fSivtO42CZ7/pub

#bodycameras #policing #surveillance #privacy #MAPol #Somerville MA

Here is the latest update from the Somerville ad hoc group working on the body cameras issue: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRiU1P7QeQoR9Tbx-xr1wzevoa7D5UnRo8kRdEws6CFHLEgDCU7EzDkR60PAv4Rk0FByuZemkjya95c/pub

The very short version is that the Mayor is still trying to rush this specific body cameras policy through without proper deliberation and that #Somerville is holding a special meeting on July 27th for public comment *and* a vote.

This is *not* the public comment session that was requested by petition.

#bodycameras #SomervilleMA #policing #surveillance #privacy #MAPol

Tom Homan Blames Democrats for Delay in ICE Body Cameras After Recent Shootings

📰 Original title: Tom Homan Has Unhinged Response To Latest Fatal ICE Shootings

🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Users: It's clickbait ⚠️

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/tom-homan-blames-democrats-for-delay-in-ice-body-cameras-after-recent-shootings.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#politics #ice #bodycameras #governmentshutdown

🚔💡🚨

I am looking to connect with other folks on the fediverse who study, work in, or otherwise post about police surveillance tech, smart city tech being repurposed as police surveillance, municipal governance of surveillance technologies, and anticipatory governance in US contexts in general/US racially segregated cities in particular. Boosts very welcome! #introduction #SmartCity #surveillance #police #governance #alpr #flock #PredictivePolicing #palantir #drones #bodycameras #sociology

The ad hoc group I've been organizing with has submitted a petition for a public hearing about #Somerville #bodycameras. Per city charter, City Council must hold a public hearing within three months.

Please stay tuned!

#surveillance #policing

An OCR'd version of the current Somerville Memorandum of Understanding on body camera use is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wyNH99s9MREk18L44uK7HRb5Khv-bUX5/view

#SomervilleMA #bodycameras

There's another update on #Somerville #BodyCameras posted here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS6Lvi0cNzhztgzCyB-Ie28CSLJi1xzYOg6mEpNvXN_SJO4Dhyy2F6ZZJk-lBwd3zCissDDkIUXCu86/pub

We finally have the memorandum of understanding on body cameras, and unfortunately it still says the data will be controlled by the police, with civilians only able to access the footage through public records requests.

#MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

Stocktonia: Stockton police roll out live AI language translation software for body cameras. “On Tuesday, the Stockton Police Department announced the integration of a new, real-time translation feature into the more than 300 body cameras issued to in-the-field officers. The new tool, said Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden during a morning news conference, would eliminate delays in […]

From one of our #Somerville City Councilors:
https://jonforsomerville.beehiiv.com/p/on-body-worn-cameras

#SomervilleMA #bodycameras #citybudgets

For anyone interested in a more complete update on the #Somerville #bodycameras deliberations, one of my collaborators put together this document summarizing ways to support our organizing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSLHo6CD3P8L-EGbsr7pqxXf0CaU1A-XhsXV95ES43uPehjHgTpnwEORUTq_H_87V3nw2cEwSTgSMnY/pub

#surveillance #SomervilleMA #MAPol #MAPoli

Last night the #Somerville Legislative Matters Committee decided to hold the #bodycameras proposal in committee rather than voting to approve it.

It's not clear what the next steps will be (stay tuned), but for now they are not moving forward on the proposal for body cameras without civilian oversight.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote or called in to council to express concern about the city's proposal!

#MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

This little video gives some of the background on how body cameras have been previously discussed in #Somerville, including clips illustrating the broad consensus to reject body cameras in 2022 unless there is civilian oversight (which wasn't on the table then and at this point appears still not to be on the table).

#SomervilleMA #bodycameras #surveillance

If you'd like to stay informed of community organizing efforts regarding the City of Somerville's pursuit of Body Worn Cameras for Police, please fill out this form:
https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/VzpeBEc1duRVTYgevX3BuF4CcDWxqAmS6J+YP9zykh8/

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #bodycameras #MAPol #MAPoli

2016 article about a study on how people interpret police body camera videos.

Includes videos taken from different perspectives and quiz questions:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/04/01/us/police-bodycam-video.html

Hat-tip to @crystalvisits

#police #bodycameras #policing #surveillance