The Government's War on Cameras!

Who will watch the watchers? In a world of ubiquitous, hand-held digital cameras, that's not an abstract philosophical question. Police everywhere are cracking down on citizens using cameras to capture breaking news and law enforcement in action.

In 2009, police arrested blogger and freelance photographer Antonio Musumeci on the steps of a New York federal courthouse. His alleged crime? Unauthorized photography on federal property.

Police cuffed and arrested Musumeci, ultimately issuing him a citation. With the help of the New York Civil Liberties Union, he forced a settlement in which the federal government agreed to issue a memo acknowledging that it is totally legal to film or photograph on federal property.

Although the legal right to film on federal property now seems to be firmly established, many other questions about public photography still remain and place journalists and citizens in harm's way. Can you record a police encounter? Can you film on city or state property? What are a photographer's rights in so-called public spaces?

These questions will remain unanswered until a case reaches the Supreme Court, says UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh, founder of the popular law blog The Volokh Conspiracy. Until then, it's up to people to know their rights and test the limits of free speech, even at the risk of harassment and arrest.

Who will watch the watchers? All of us, it turns out, but only if we're willing to fight for our rights.

Produced by Hawk Jensen and Zach Weissmueller. Camera by Jim Epstein and Jensen. About 7.30 minutes.

Go to http://reason.com/blog/2011/05/26/rea... for links and more articles, including Reason magazine's January 2011 cover story, "The War on Cameras" and the companion piece "How to Record the Cops."

Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable versions of the video and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

• Category

  News & Politics

[mattxr2i]

Anyone heard of the 1st amendment??? Anyone heard of the 2nd amendment?? Yeah use the second one to defend the first one.. Enough said.

[bossofworld]

obumers AmeriKa..his saul alinski socialism is hurting our country and stealing our rights. 

[dat sneefa]

1776

[JustaAmerican1]

Not anymore. Seems that lower Federal Court had heard about these amendment things, and decided that they were Very Constitutional; accordingly they declared these bans of videos/pictures that the states declared were unconstitutional. Not happy with this some the fascists went to the Supreme Court have this ruling overturned. Supreme Court let ruling stand. Case over. Tell the Badged Uniformed Fascist Thugs to Stuff it & if the do stop you they just violated your civil rights, sue them.

[jagarcia0705]

0:18 Random Driver: I'm so bored. Shoving my fist in my ass, jerking off with a loaded pistol can only be fun for long. What can I do to pass the time (sees a motorcyclist) I know I'll bother that random motorcyclist. Even though he's driving within the speed limit, not swerving from side to side, but its the mini camera that's on his helmet that is pissing me off! Even through the mini camera is not obstructing his view or even effecting traffic in slightest way, I'll abuse my POWER anyway.

[Bill Conley]

Burning the American flag and smearing faeces on the likeness of Jesus is protected by the 1st amendment... but filming a police office is not ! WHat the heck is wrong with this country?

[Bill Conley]

Its one thing for the public to be ignorant but its another for the police to break the law - WHY aren't these police officers being changed for false arrest ?

[hamzah938]

This is what a hero looks like. see video at 01:54 -

[rigdonmichael4]

They use to say the pen is mightier then the sword , today .the camera is mightier then the gun ..keep up the great work in showing the ppl that freedom is not free , it requires the most sacrifices sweat and blood ...give me freedom are give me death

[Greg Bergman]

Update your map, PA Courts have ruled that audio and video taping of law enforcement is allowed.

[Warren Sal]

Stupid part is, Google has already filmed the federal building, properly better than you have, and you can pay for current satellite photos of any area or building, so its not about the building, its about the cop doing something wrong and getting court. Judges always protect the cops, because they all work in the same building

[ElGatoLoco698]

Yes, now that the law has had time to be tested and it's obviously not working, then yes, Obama should repeal it. Secondly, Bush passed the patriotism act. Which was supposed to expire in 2010. Why did Obama support re-newing it?