ACLU Launches App That Can Secretly Record Police Encounters

The New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched a free smartphone app, called "Police Tape," that will allow citizens to record and store both video and audio of police encounters.

“This app provides an essential tool for police accountability,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Deborah Jacobs in a statement posted on the chapter's website. “Too often incidents of serious misconduct go unreported because citizens don’t feel that they will be believed. Here, the technology empowers citizens to place a check on police power directly.” 

The app operates in "stealth" mode — once recording begins, the app disappears from the screen "to prevent any attempt by police to squelch the recording."

The recorded material can then be sent to the ACLU-NJ for backup storage, and according to the website, "analysis of possible civil liberties violations."

Currently the app is only available for Android, but an Apple version is expected later this summer.

“Historically, vivid images of police mistreating citizens have seared our public consciousness and in some cases spurred important changes,” said ACLU-NJ Policy Counsel Alexander Shalom in a statement posted on the website. “Photos and video are critical to ensuring police accountability and police should know that the eyes of the public are on them at all times.” 

The “Police Tape” app is available for free download at http://www.aclu-nj.org/yourrights/the-app-place/. 

What do you think? Is the app a good idea? Do you think you would ever need such an app? Let us know in the comments.