Police bodycam videos of young women being arrested in New Jersey have sparked outrage on YouTube.
While police body-worn camera footage from comparable situations is publicly disclosed with the intention of boosting police accountability, one YouTuber has been profiting from it under the Open Records Act (or OPRA).
Police in Montville, Morris County, discovered one of their bodycam stops on YouTube and learned from other agencies that the person running the website primarily sought DWI stops involving young ladies, some of whom were underage.
“So, we received one, but speaking with the other chiefs, numerous other chiefs have received similar requests,” Montville Chief of Police Andrew Caggiano explained.
According to reports, one woman requested that the YouTuber remove the video of her stop, but was informed she would have to pay to have it erased.
Legislators are now working to protect young people caught up in this uncomfortable position, particularly women who appear to be exploited in many films because they are dressed inappropriately.
“This legislation, while acknowledging the importance of OPRA, would help to reduce this type of abuse,” stated Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco. “You’d have to get a person’s consent before posting their image on the internet.”
The State Senator claims that this is not an attempt to prevent the media from accessing information, but rather an effort to protect people in today’s technological age, where footage can be requested and used just for exposure.
The YouTube channel’s owner told WABC that he does this for educational purposes and that the proposed legislation is a “blatantly unconstitutional infringement” on press freedom.