[akira2501]

> Because then you end up with recordings of things that you shouldn't have, like the officer using the restroom or a victim who has asked not to be recorded.

Then make the recordings encrypted, and ONLY let the DA have the key that decrypts them. This solves the lack of data problem, but it also prevents the police from using their own footage without authorization.

> Do the math sometime on what kind of bandwidth and storage capacity a large agency like NYPD, LAPD, Chicago PD, etc. would need to upload several hours worth of officer-recorded video each day.

You don't have to save full quality video indefinitely. After several days, remove all color from the video. After several more, reduce the frame rate. After several more, reduce the resolution. If you built your system carefully, you could save much more video than people tend to estimate.

Beyond that.. there is a statue of limitations. I expect the police to keep their body cam recordings for up to 90 days, beyond that, unless they're directly related to a case, they should be allowed to reclaim that storage.

[superfrank]

> Then make the recordings encrypted, and ONLY let the DA have the key that decrypts them. This solves the lack of data problem, but it also prevents the police from using their own footage without authorization.

Unfortunately, That doesn't work.

Police officers, supervisors, and internal affairs often need to refer back to recording when making or reviewing police reports. Body cam and dash cam videos often need to be shared internally or externally. Also, many precincts take random samples of body camera footage and do spot check reviews to make sure officers are behaving in line with policy.

There are tons of people who need access to body cam footage on a regular basis.

[billh]

I've been saying this for a while now and I think encryption is the solution to the problem.

Instead of having an "Off" button, make the button begin ciphering the data with an officers private key. If the courts discover that there is something of interest in the duration of time that the camera is encrypting, they can compel the officer to turn over her encryption key or face a contempt charge.

This would allow either side (prosecution or defendant) to bring an argument forward and to have a judge decide if there's enough merit to warrant a decryption of the recording.