Technology

Recording Police Encounters? There’s an App for That: ACLU-NC Phone App Track Civil Rights Violations

Published

9 years ago

May 23, 2015

By Stephanie Carson, N.C. News Service
Special to the NNPA via The Charlotte Post

RALEGH (NNPA) – At a time when the manner in which police engage with citizens is being questioned and re-evaluated, North Carolinians can now use their smartphones to record and report interactions with law enforcement.

“The user will have the option to give us their contact information, and fill out a brief report where they can document anything they think is important from the interaction,” says Manrique. “That is also immediately sent to us.” A new app called Mobile Justice N.C. records videos and immediately transmits footage to the ACLU of North Carolina. According to Carolyna Manrique, staff attorney for the ACLU of North Carolina, the video is preserved even if the user’s phone is later seized or destroyed.

The use of police body cameras is also being discussed in cities around the state, including Durham. The ACLU has documented at least 30 North Carolina communities where body cameras are in use, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

A bill that would limit public access to body and dash camera recordings, H 713, passed the state House in late April and has advanced to a state Senate committee.

Manrique says by taking ownership of documenting interactions with police, citizens can protect themselves against any violation of their rights. She adds that police body cameras are useful if the right policies are in place.

“We view people’s phones as the people’s body cameras,” she says. “Although we do support body-worn cameras for police officers, public access is really important.”

Mobile Justice has an informational video reminding people of their rights if they feel they’re being bothered for doing innocuous things like walking down the street, protesting or hanging out with friends.

“If you or someone around you becomes a police suspect for doing any of those things, you’ve got the Mobile Justice App,” says Manrique. “Mobile Justice makes it easy to record or report interactions with the police.”

Available in English and Spanish, Mobile Justice N.C. can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Manrique says her office receives hundreds of calls each year from people describing negative encounters with police. Body camera supporters say it makes evidence collection easier and helps protect police from false claims of abuse.
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Attorney General Rob Bonta, Oakland Lawmakers, Introduce Legislation to Protect Youth Online

At a press conference in downtown Oakland on Jan. 29, Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) to announce two pieces of legislation designed to protect children online. The bills are Senate Bill (SB) 976, the Protecting Youth from Social Media Addiction Act and Assembly Bill (AB) 1949, the California Children’s Data Privacy Act.

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

From left to right: Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) at a press conference introducing legislation to protect young people online.

By Magaly Muñoz

The bills are Senate Bill (SB) 976, the Protecting Youth from Social Media Addiction Act and Assembly Bill (AB) 1949, the California Children’s Data Privacy Act.

Skinner authored SB 976, which addresses online addiction affecting teenage users, while Wicks’s bill, AB 1949, takes on big tech by proposing data privacy and children rights protections.

“Social media companies unfortunately show us time and time again that they are all too willing to ignore the detriment to our children, the pain to our children, the mental health and physical challenges they face, in order to pursue profits,” Bonta said.

SB 976 would allow parents to control the nature and frequency of the content their under-18-year-old children see on social media. Notifications from social media platforms would also be paused from midnight to 6 am and controls would allow parents to set time limits on their children’s usage based on their discretion.

Skinner stated that the longer that kids are on their phones during the day, the higher the risk for depression, anxiety and other related issues.

The bill would also push to get rid of addictive media that is harmful for young women and girls, specifically image filters that mimic cosmetic plastic surgery.

Bonta and 33 other attorney generals had previously filed a lawsuit against Meta, owner of the popular social media applications Instagram and Facebook. The filing claims that the company purposefully uses algorithmized content that harms younger audiences.

“Social media companies have the ability to protect our kids, they could act, but they do not,” Skinner said.

The Child Data Privacy Act would strengthen existing protections for data privacy under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The lawmakers argue that the law does not have effective protection for those under 18 years old.

Wicks stated that the bill would forbid businesses from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone underage unless they receive informed consent, or it becomes necessary for the purpose of the business.

Wicks added that the acts would make it so that a search on the internet like “How do I lose weight?” would not result in dieting pill advertisements targeting youth, which, some experts report, could be harmful to their mental and physical health.

“In a digital age where the vulnerabilities of young users are continually exploited, we cannot afford to let our laws lag behind, our children deserve complete assurance that their online experience will be safeguarded from invasive practices,” Wicks said.

Supporters of the two acts say they have gained bipartisan support issue, but the authors and Bonta expect them to be met with pushback from the affected companies.

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Unleashing the Power_ Discover the The Thrills…F-TYPE Convertible

Published

4 months ago

December 18, 2023

Oakland Post

Performance & Handling
Powered by a robust 5.0 Liter Supercharged 8 Cylinder Gas Engine, the F-Type R75 doesn’t just purr; it roars with a mighty 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with an 8-speed Automatic Transmission, the car offers an exhilarating drive that is both fast and smooth. The All-Wheel Drive system ensures excellent traction and stability, making it a joy to handle in various driving conditions. The Electric Power Assisted Steering and JaguarDrive Control with Selectable Driving Modes add to the car’s agility, providing a driving experience that is as intuitive as it is thrilling. Additionally, the Adaptive Dynamics and Electronic Active Differential with Torque Vectoring by Braking enhance the car’s responsiveness, making every turn a testament to its engineering prowess. Unique to AutoNetwork.com.

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Elevate Your Ride…

Join us for a virtual car’s best-detailed walkaround of the sleek and stylish 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE AWD convertible. Get an up-close look at the exterior design, interior features, and performance capabilities of this luxury sports car. From its powerful engine to its advanced technology, this video will give you a comprehensive overview of what makes […]
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4 months ago

December 18, 2023

Oakland Post

Join us for a virtual car’s best-detailed walkaround of the sleek and stylish 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE AWD convertible. Get an up-close look at the exterior design, interior features, and performance capabilities of this luxury sports car. From its powerful engine to its advanced technology, this video will give you a comprehensive overview of what makes the F-TYPE AWD convertible stand out on the road. Unique to AutoNetwork.com.