[sp332]

It does seem terribly hypocritical to complain about the police capturing images from a public street, while simultaneously defending people's right to record the police in public.

Cops are only recordable on the job, because they are public servants doing a public job.

[mikeash]

I thought anyone in public could legally be recorded.

[saraid216]

It's a legal gray area because the physics of wave propagation are not good about obeying privacy laws.

IANAL, so that's the extent of the opinion I should be giving.

[krichman]

It's not gray at all. You may record someone in public. You may record someone on private property iff you have permission or you are on public property. You may not use their image in an advertisement without a signed release.

(IANAL also)