Greater police transparency using blockchain: the body cam example

There is a huge US debate currently unraveling on whether police body camera footage is public under Freedom of Information Act laws (FOIA).

Public access to body cam footage is necessary for obvious reasons. For one, to create a certain level of transparency. Having a recording of actual events can build a reliable and accurate portrayal of what actually occurred instead of relying on anecdotal evidence.

Body cam footage encourages the reduction of unnecessary use of force and misconduct. It has showed the Baltimore police planting evidence, the the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police shooting a man with his arms in the air as well as the unnecessary arrest and use of force on a Salt Lake City nurse. 

It has also helped convictions like this criminal who shot a police officer four times. It has displayed chaos during events like the Las Vegas shooting, and given a look into the selfless acts of police officers like these two Atlanta officers who rescued people from a burning car. 

There are valid reasons for not releasing body cam footage. Protecting privacy of anyone caught in the footage, especially victims, is a high priority of police agencies as well as protecting ongoing investigations.

However, not releasing footage can cause the public to feel deceived and place unnecessary public pressure on police agencies which can decrease the public trust in agencies while creating a source of contention in police-community relationships.

Enter blockchain.

Whether data is private or public, blockchain can strengthen transparency.

What is a blockchain?

From Wikipedia:

“A blockchain is a decentralized and distributed digital ledger that is used to record transactions across many computers so that the record cannot be altered retroactively without the alteration of all subsequent blocks and the collusion of the network.”

Blockchain is the a reason why cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are becoming so popular. Every transaction with a bitcoin is recorded using a blockchain making it easier to track and detect fraud. Blockchain also allows encryption to protect privacy. In fact, government is already starting to understand blockchain’s potential.

How can blockchain create transparency?

In body cam footage each recording could be encrypted to protect privacy. Each encrypted recording would represent a chain. Each link in the chain is a ledger. Each of these ledgers can be accessed by a different user. 

Instead of the video record being handled by one person or agency, the blockchain would allow it to be accessible by a few agencies. The police records department could be in charge of any changes to the footage and pass on the unencrypted footage to the press or internal investigation efforts. Blockchain would allow other departments like the mayor’s office, the city attorney’s office, other police agencies, and possibly oversight groups access to the footage blockchain so these outside agencies could monitor any changes.

When the footage changes - for example if someone redacts faces or removes sound to hide victim information - the change is recorded on the blockchain ledger. Even though users may not be able to see what was changed because of encryption to protect privacy, all users can see that a change was made. 

This form of decentralization makes it harder to commit and easier to detect fraud. If footage gets altered or deleted in a suspicious manner, it would require a conspiracy of multiple levels of government for a coverup to happen.

Similar to open data portals, a method of checks and balances by making the information available to many helps increase transparency and accountability. 

Where else can blockchain be used in government?

Blockchain doesn’t stop at body cams. A decentralized digital ledger would prove beneficial when applied to any kind of record or database held by government. Anything that can be FOIA’d (police records management systems, financial and budget data, property records) to private information that the government keeps track of (tax information, voting information, and personal data like social security numbers, addresses, etc). 

The uses are almost limitless. It’s now a matter of getting government to understand and implement these new technologies. So, does your local agency use blockchain? Let us know in the comments below!

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