In order to prevent embarrassing videos of police officers pepper-spraying handcuffed individuals — and other acts clearly in violation of Americans’ rights — from appearing on social media sites, many police departments are relying on technology that allows police to turn off or block data transmission whenever they like, including blocking mobile phones from taking photos and videos.
Apple patented such a technology last year.
All police officers would need to do to keep unfavorable videos and photos of themselves off the Internet is decide a public gathering or venue is “sensitive” and Apple will allow the officers to switch off all data transmission capabilities.
According to the developers of the technology, the most common places a data transmission block is used is in cinemas, theaters and concert grounds, but they said the technology could also be used in covert police or government operations “that may need complete ‘blackout’ conditions.”
Announcement of the technology block has concerned privacy advocates, who say that the technology may be used to keep whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden from sharing any information. In response, Apple said that “the wireless transmission of sensitive data to a remote source is a threat to security, with the sensitive data being anything from classified government data to answers to an exam administered in an academic setting.”
Other “sensitive” venues include religious ceremonies, weddings, funerals and academic lectures.
In the patent, the company reasons that there needs to be a way to restrict the use of mobile technology. “As wireless devices such as cellular telephones, pagers, personal media devices and smartphones become ubiquitous, more and more people are carrying these devices in various social and professional settings. The result is that these wireless devices can often annoy, frustrate and even threaten people in sensitive venues.”
But as law enforcement’s technology increases, so does that of the public. As reported by a local San Francisco news outlet, many criminals are using “scanner” apps on their smartphones in an effort to elude the police. The apps, which range in price from free to 99 cents to $1.99 allow a person to listen in on police communications.
According to an internal memo from the Oakland Police Department, in a series of gang raids, police learned that the suspects were using the scanner apps to monitor police radio transmissions in an effort to evade being arrested.
Tony Ribera is an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco Institute of Criminal Justice Leadership and former Chief of Police for the San Francisco Police Department. He said thanks to the apps, more people are listening to police radio transmissions than ever before.
Ribera said police have to be aware of the apps so their operations won’t be compromised. “Officers need to be cautious and cognizant that these people have access to radio transmissions,” he said.
According to KTVU, since the announcement of the scanner apps was made, the Oakland Police have looked into changing some policies and procedures to better protect their officers. What exactly those changes are is not yet known.