In recent years, the policy of using body cameras by the police has been on the increase. While this happens, this policy has brought out a series of ethical issues. Often, when law enforcers take on surveillance technology, there is an overlook of the outcomes, and primarily moral. In most cases, these cameras are for the better of everyone, including society. The policy of police officers using body cameras has brought about several ethical concerns such as an invasion of privacy and a lack of absolute transparency in data presentation.
One of the ethical issues presented by the use of body cameras is an invasion of privacy. In the execution of their duties, police officers are often called to sort people's most special cases such as assault, and body cameras pose a risk of such a moment going viral. (Lee et al., 2016). On numerous occasions, civil rights activists and movements argue that the videos and images captured for crime, domestic violence, or rape victims pose a risk to them should they accidentally or otherwise leak to unnecessary audiences. Arguably, however, in some cases, victims, especially those unfamiliar with the device, have no idea they are being recorded, and this is also an invasion of their privacy. The other ethical concern brought about by this policy is the lack of absolute transparency when presenting evidence (Ariel et al., 2015). Sometimes, especially when the officers have done something that may incriminate them, they may show only a fraction of the footage, and this means injustice for the victims. Police officers may deduct video or audio footage and submit what suits their intended purpose. If, for instance, the video had recorded a case of the officer brutalizing a civilian, there will be done nothing to prove it happened.
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The policy on policing using body cameras is purposed to improve their work and also make cases more natural, seeing as they are beneficial with evidence. However, these devices can be invasion o privacy, and it is upon officers to not only make their victims aware they are being recorded, but also seek their content. Furthermore, they should be discreet and handle footages with care.
References
Ariel, B., Farrar, W. A., & Sutherland, A. (2015). The effect of police body-worn cameras on use of force and citizens’ complaints against the police: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of quantitative criminology , 31 (3), 509-535.
Lee, J., Wang, J., Cliff, G., & Rao, H. R. (2016). Management of Digital Evidence: Police Judgment about Ethical Use of Body Worn Camera.
