The ACLU in California today released a free smart-phone app that
allows people to send cellphone videos of police encounters to the ACLU,
automatically—and the ACLU will preserve the video footage, even if the
cops seize the phone and delete the video or destroy the phone. The
app, “Mobile Justice CA,” works for both iPhones and Android users. It’s
available at Apple’s App Store and at Google Play.
The app features a large red “Record” button in the middle of the
screen. When it’s pressed, the video is recorded on the phone and a
duplicate copy is transmitted simultaneously to the ACLU server. When
the “stop” button is pressed, a “Report” screen appears, where
information about the location of the incident and the people involved
can also be transmitted to the ACLU. The video and the information are
treated as a request for legal assistance and reviewed by staff members.
No action is taken by the ACLU, however, unless an explicit request is
made, and the reports are treated as confidential and privileged legal
communications. The videos, however, may be shared by the ACLU with the
news media, community organizations or the general public to help call
attention to police abuse.
