Extensive reporting and approval processes are being stripped from the ordinance after pushback by council members and Cantrell administration officials
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Posted inGovernment & Politics
City Council considers ordinance to ban facial recognition and create a public review and approval process for surveillance technology
Council members were supportive of broad aspects of the ordinance, but some remain unconvinced on certain restrictions.
Posted inOpinion
An open letter on surveillance in New Orleans
“As a citizen concerned with the health and liberty of our fellow New Orleanians during this unprecedented time, I was outraged to learn of the City of New Orleans continued expansion of surveillance tactics and tools through unconstitutional police checkpoints and new contracts with surveillance companies. These irresponsible choices divert funds and attention from assisting those most affected by the intersection of COVID-19 and existing structural inequalities.”
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Louisiana Supreme Court affirms that map of city surveillance cameras is public information
A public defender sued last year after the city denied her request for surveillance camera location data.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
‘The time is now’: City Council puts pause on additional public cameras to work on comprehensive surveillance regulations
Councilman Jason Williams said he was prompted to the delay the vote and create new regulations after meeting with the local community group Eye on Surveillance
Posted inCriminal Justice
Appeals court affirms that city surveillance records are public
A public defender sued for crime camera location records after the city claimed they were too sensitive for public release.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City won’t release real-time surveillance footage to the public, possibly violating state law
Aware that camera footage could be abused, the city developed a policy that shields most video from release. But that policy appears to go against state sunshine laws.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Police found surveillance cameras with NOPD logos mounted to a Lakeview light pole. They weren’t the city’s. But they were near a house connected to a city crime-camera contractor.
Active Solutions COO Jeff Burkhardt denied that he purchased or owned the cameras, calling a reporter’s questions “fake news.” Less than 24 hours after The Lens called him, the cameras were gone.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Court orders city to hand over records on surveillance network
Judge rejects argument that cameras are used for terrorism prevention.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Public defender sues city for records on surveillance camera locations
CIty denied a public records request from the defense attorney last summer, claiming it would reveal sensitive information related to terrorism prevention. But civil rights groups representing her say the cameras are, in fact, normally used for routine law enforcement and criminal prosecution.