ACLU launches iOS app to record law enforcement encounters

Looking to reduce "over-policing" and surface instances of excessive force, the American Civil Liberties Union of California on Thursday launched a smartphone app that lets users securely document law enforcement encounters.

The app, called Mobile Justice CA, uses Apple's powerful iPhone platform to securely track law enforcement misconduct, according to the ACLU.

Available to residents of California, Mobile Justice CA records video like any other camera app, but instead of saving the file locally, it automatically uploads the data to an ACLU affiliate for review. This added step is designed to protect against accidental or purposeful device breakage or confiscation resulting from the recorded incident.

In addition to chronicling potential civil rights violations, the app sends out a geotagged alert to nearby Mobile Justice CA users, warning them of the situation. The app also features access to the ACLU's "Know Your Rights" material and information about upcoming events.

The app's release comes amidst a firestorm of public unrest fueled by a recent rash of deadly police confrontations with black suspects.

Mobile Justice CA is available as a free 11.8MB download from the iOS App Store. As noted by Engadget, similar apps are also operational in Oregon, Missouri and New York.

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55 Comments

nagromme

said about 8 years ago

This is a problem technology CAN solve. Well, help a lot anyway. Body cameras are an example. This is another!

blazar

said about 8 years ago

You are delusional... When trust is no longer present, the basis for sentient civilizations is in jeapordy. Living in the world that this technology creates will not be a world worth living in. This will erode freedom. This is a certainty.

jfc1138

said about 8 years ago

Supervision is often quite useful. I would hope positive acts by law enforcement members would be similarly documented.

BuffyzDead

said about 8 years ago

@ blazer TRUST .....but Verify

cali

said about 8 years ago

I've always dram of an app that recorded police while uploading to a server. The problem with recording police is that half the time they try to take the camera away and confiscate it or break it.