ACLU & EFF Sues San Francisco Over Video Surveillance
San Francisco admits it asked and received a link for remote, real-time access but denies it ever clicked the link. However, an SFPD email suggests otherwise. Is San Francisco telling the truth or not?
However, the city ordinance allows using video surveillance under "exigent" circumstances. Would San Francisco, in the midst of rising crime, qualify for that?
In this report, IPVM examines the complaint, SFPD's response, and contradiction between the SFPD's position and email evidence.
ACLU *** *** **** **** ** *** *********
** ******* ****, * *********** ******* **-**** **************** *** **** *** ****** ** San *********. *** ********** *** ***** represented ** ********* **** *** **** and ************* ******** **********(***).
SFPD ********* ******** **** ********* *********** ***** ************ ** ****** ****
*** ********* ****** *** **** ******** a**** ************* ****** **** ****** ** ***** surveillance ********* ******* ***** ******** **** the ***** ** ***********. ************, *** SFPD ********* *** ************ ****** ** a ******* ******* ** ***+ ******* in *** ***** ****** ******** *********** District (*****) ****** *** ******** ******* police ********* ** **** ***/***** **** 2020:
**** *** ** ******* **** *, 2020, ** ********* ** ****** **** to *** ******* ** *** ********* to ******** ***** ***** ********* ****** and *********** ** *****-*** ******** ******* police ********, *** *** ********* ****** Department (“****”)acquired, ********, *** **** * ******* ******* ** **** **** *** ************ ******* ** *** ** ********** ** **** ****. In doing so, the SFPD violated *** ****’* *********** ** ************ ********** ********* (“the Ordinance”).
**** ****** *** ******** *** **** ** ***** *******.
SFPD ****** ********* ** *********, ****** "** **********" ********
***** **** ******, ** ********* ** *** *********, **** ** ******** * "******, real-time ****" ** *** ***** ************ system, ** ****** "** ********** ********". Therefore, **** **** ** *** *** violate *** *********:
********* ****** **** ********* * ******, real-time **** ******* ********** *** ****** network *********** ***********, *********, ** *** under *** *********.
*** **** ***** ** ******, ******* Scott, ******* ********** **** ****** **** ******** *** ***** ** *********** **** while ****** ** *** ******* *** provided ** ****, "** ********** ********":
******** ******** **** (“***”) ********* ****** to ***’* ******* ** ******** ******* live **** ** *** ***** ********** of *******, ********* *** ******* *********. On *** ****, *** ******** * ****** **** which ******* **** ******* ** ****** live ****, ** ******. ** *******, vandalism *** ******* *** *** ******** in *** ***** ******* ** ***,SFPD *** *** ******* ***’* ******* ** ******** *******.[******** *****]
****** ********** **** ***** ** "** Monitoring"
*******, ****** **** **** ******** ********** the ****'* *****, ****** *** ******* were "********* ******* ** ****** ** [SFPD] *********** *********," ***** ** ** not ******* ***** **** ***** ** they *** *** **** *** ****.
**** ******* ****** *** ***** ******** ******** ****** ** *****'* ******* ** Sunday, *** **, **** "*** *********** ********* *** ******** ********." Then, *** **** ******* ******* ****** asked *** ******** ****** ** *******, June *, **** "******* *** *******." The**** *** ***********:
** *********, **** **, ****, ******* Gunter ******* ***** ** "****** ** and *** ***** ***," ******* *** cameras "************* ******* ** ****** ** *********** awareness *** ******** ****** ******":
***** *** **** ****** **** ********** of *** *******, *** **** **** "thank ***" ***** ** ***** **** an **** ******* *********** *** ****'* position. *** *****, ***** ********** ****** that *** ******* **** "********* *******," seems ** ** ** ********* **** the **** *** *** **** ******* the **** *** **** ** *** monitoring.
"Exigent" ************* *** ********** ** **** ********
***** *** **** ********* ****** *** use ** ***** ************ ******* ***** approval ** "******* *************," **** **** not ********* "*******" ************* ** *** answer ** *** *********. ******************* "*******" ************* **:
** ********* *********imminent ****** ** ***** or serious ******** ****** to any person that requires the immediate use of Surveillance Technology or the information it provides. [emphasis added]
*******, *** ***** ** ******'******* **** ******** *** ***** ** *********** *** explicitly ***** **** *** **** ******** there ** ** ******* *************, ********* injury ** ******** ****** ********* ** a ******** ******:
******* ************:
***** ****** ********* ******** ******** ** May ** *** **** *** ******* of *** ** ******** ** ** arrests ******** ** ******* *** ****** of *** ******* *** ******** ********* fires ******* ********** *** ***** ********** in *****. ************* ********** ********* ** May ** ******** ** ** ******* and ******* ** ******* ******* *** contraband. ** *** **, *** **** Department ********** ****** *** *********, ********* mutual *** *** ********* *** ******** by *** ********** ****** ** ********* Services *** * ******** ****** *** enacted ** ***** ****** *****.
*****, *** *** ** *** ****** under "*******" ************* *** *** ** argument ********** ******** ** *** ****'* answer ** *** **********' *********.
******, *** ********** ******* ***** **** no "*******" ************* ** *** ****, as ***** ********* ******:
****,no ******* ************* ******* within the meaning of the Ordinance that permitted SFPD to acquire and use the USBID’s camera network, absent prior approval from the Board of Supervisors. There was no ********* ********* ******** ****** ** ***** ** ******* ******** ****** ** * ****** that required SFPD’s immediate use of the USBID’s camera network. [emphasis added]
** ** ***** **** *** ****'* and *********'* ************** ** "*******" ************* are *********. ************* ***** "*******" ************* could ** * ******** ******** *** the **** ** ******* *** *** of *** ******, *******, ** *** not * *** ******** ** *** response ** *** *********.
*****, ** ** ******* **** ***** specific ********** ***** ***** **"*******" *************** * *****.
Crime ***** ******* ** *** *********
***** *** **** **** * ***** problem ** *** *********, *** ***** violent ****** **** ********* ** *** last ****,********** *** ***** ******* *************** ************* (****** **%). ******** ****** used ** ******* ****** ********, ********* have********* **** *************** *** ******** ** *******-**-***** ****** were ******. **** **** ******* *** SFPD, ****, ****** ** *** ******** of *** ************ ************ *** ** used **** *********** *** ********** ** light ** ********** ***** ** *** city.
Case ******* ******* ***** ** ******** ********* **********
*******, **** ** *** ********** *** the ****, ***** ** ****** ******* in *** ********* ** *** ****'* prayer *** ****** **** ********** ** tangible ************* *** ****. *** ********* has* ***** ******* ** "***********"**** ********* ****** ********** **** ** corrected. ** ********** *** ***, **** "any ****** ******** ******* *** ********* proceedings *** ********** ******, *********** ******, or **** ** ******* ** ****** the *********, ** *** ***** ** competent ************ ** ******* **** ******* 19B," ***** ** **** *** ******* lawsuit ** *******.
** *** ****'* ****** ** ******, the ********** *** *** *** ***** to:
- ***** *declaratory ******** ******* **** *** **** ******** *** ********* because the SFPD, without prior Board approval, acquired, borrowed, and used the USBID’s camera network.
- ***** **order ********* *** ****, its agents, employees, successors, and all others acting in concert with it, to ****** **** *** **** **** ***, ******* ***** ***** ********, *******, ******, ** *** *** ******* ****** *******.
- ***** ** ***** ********* *** **** to *** **********’ *********’ **** *** costs ***** *** ********* ************** **** § ***.*(*), **** ** ***** ********* § ****.*, *** *** ***** ********** statutes.
** *** **** *** ****** *** remote ****, *** ****** *** ******* been ****. ***** ***** *** *** tangible ***** ** ****** **** *** SFPD **** ***** *** *** ***** approval *** **** ****, **** **** serves ** * ****** ****** ** the **** *** **** **** ******** violations ** *** **** ********* **** result ** ****** ********* *** ****-********* legal *******.
** **,
* **** ****** ** ******* **** the **** ****'* ******** ***** **** this *** *** **** ***** ******* circumstances, *** **** *** ***** ******* to ** (**********: ** *** *** legal *******) ** **** **** ****'* fight ****** ******* *** *********'* ***** that ***** **** ** ******* *************.
****'* **** *** *********'* ********* ***** (i.e. "** ******* *************):
****'* **'* ******** ** ********* **:
* ***** **** *** **** **'* weird **** *****'* ** ******** ***** the ***** ** ****** ******* ****** issued *** ******** ****** ** *** BoS ** ****** ****, **** *** SFPD ********** *** ********* ** *** time *******, ***. ** ***** **** exigency ***** ** * ******** **** here, *** **'* ***** **** *** SFPD ****'* **** **** ** *** lawsuit.
*** **** ****'* ******** ***** **** this *** *** **** ***** ******* circumstances
***** *** ********, *** ***** ******** to ** ***** ****** **** **** never **** *** *** ***** **** the ********** ** **** **** *** - ****** *** *** *** ****** system - ***** ***** **** ***'* be ** ********* ** ***.
*** ********** ** ****** *** **** of ******* ************* - ***** ****** that *** ************* *** *** *** ***** *******....
*** ********** ** ******** **** *** plaintiffs ******* ******** ** **** - because ******* ********* *** *** *** ****** ** all.
****'* *** *** ****** ** *** Board ** ********* ** ************ ****** to **.... *** ** ** ** reads ** ****** *** ** **** ********* ***** ******* **** **** **** didn't ** - ** ********* **.
*** ***** ******* ** ** ** not *** ***** ** ***** ********... it's **** ***** *** ********* *** not **** ** ****.
**** ** **************. ******** ******** ** not ******* *******, ******** ******'* ********** on ****, ***** ******** ******. *** "protests"(some **** **** *****) **** ******* circumstances. *** ******** ******* ** *** it ** *** ***** *** **** important **** ** * ********** ** protect **'* "*** *******" ********(**, ******** in *******..*** *** ******). *** ***'* protect ** **** ************* **** * lack ** **** *********** *********. ***** that ******** ** *********** *** **** they ***. * ****** *** **** city ********** **** ******** *** ** how **** ****** ****** *** "********" riots? *** ** ***** *** *** comment? ****, **** *********** ********** ********* their "**** *******" *** ******* *** entire ****; **** *** * ********? That's **** ****** ***** ********* **** designed ***, *****? ****'* ****** **** need *** ****** ******; **** **** on ** " ****** **** ******* platform ** ****** ****" *** *****. When ****** ******** *** ****** ********* are ***** ********, ******* *********, **** running ****, ****** ** ******** ******, use ** **** ***** ********** ** prudent. **** *** *** " *** them ******* **...*** ***'* **** ** see ** ********** ******; **** ********* ending *** *** *** ***". **** should **** ***** ***** ******* ** they *** ******* *******, ********* ******** via *** ******** ****** ************ ***** in **** *** **** ***** *****. In **** ***** ******'* ** *** country, **** *** ****** ********; ******* or ***. **, ******** ********** *****.
* ********; **** ****. ****- **** her * *****.
**#*, ****** **** *** **** ***** been ** *** *** **** ** at ***** ***'* ****** *****. ** and *** ******** ******* *** * magnet *** "******** **********" ***** *********** people ****** *** **** **** ** all *** ****. ***** ****** ** particular ** *** ******* ******** **** and * ******* *** ******** ******** off *** *****. ** ** **!**** (literally **** ** ***** ***** *** step) *** ******* *** **** ***** doing ***** ***** ** ********* *** in ********* ********. *** ****** ** and ****** ***** *** *** **** and *** *** ****** ***** ** these ***** **** ******** ******* **** place ** **** ********* ** ****** in **** ***** *** ***'* *** like *****. **** ******** * **** at *** *** ******* ***** *** $500/nt *** **** **** *******.....*** **** like *** *** ** * ***** world ******* ** *****. ** *** are *********** **** **** ** ****. I **** ***** ** ************ **** time * *** ***** *** **** place ** ******.
*** ***** ** ** *********** ** PRIVACY **** ** ****** ***** ***** may ** ************ *******. **** **** to ****** ** *********, **** ******** proactively *** **** ** **** ****** from *********.
* *****, ***** ********* ** **** again!
"**#*, ****** **** *** **** ***** been ** *** *** **** ** at ***** ***'* ****** *****. ** and *** ******** ******* *** * magnet *** "******** **********" ***** *********** people ****** *** **** **** ** all *** ****. ***** ****** ** particular ** *** ******* ******** **** and * ******* *** ******** ******** off *** *****. "
********, * **** **** ***** *** consulted ** **** ** *** *****, most ********** ****** ** *** *** of *******. *** ******** *** ** "peaceful" ** ********, *** ***** * very ********* ***** ** *** ********. See, *** **** *******, ***** *****, is *** *** *********, **********, *** rather, ***** **** *** ******* **** (elected, *********..)******** ***/** *********** ******/***. ** you ****** ** **** ** * place ***** *********** *** ** *** of ***** **** *******, *** ****, or **** **********, ******, ** ** their ****, ***** ******. ** * society ***** **'** **** ********* **** the ******, "********" *** ********* ** criminals, *** ******* ** ****** ** fail. *** ** ** (*******), *****. At ***** *** ******* ***** ** better **** **** ***** ******; *** criminals ***'* **** ** ****** ** much ** ** **** ****** ** some ***** *******.... ********, ** *** end *** *** **** *** *****; enjoy.
** ******* ** ** **** ** a ***** ********** ** *** ****. While * ***** **** *** ********* and ****** ****** ***** ******; ********* crimes ***** **** **** ********** ***********. CCTV, ****** *****, *** *** ***** responder's **** **** *** ***** **** of *** ******* ******* ** *********** investigators **** ** **** ****. **** closure ***** **** * ******** ****** on *** *********** *** *********** ******** serve.
**** ****** ********* *** ** ****** recognition ********** | *****.***
**** ***** ******* ** **.
** *** *** *** ****** **** SFPD ** *** ***** ** *********** they ***** ***** ** *** ********* that **** ********* **** '***' (*** ordinance) ******** **** ** **** **** very **** ******:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
****** *, ********* ** *************** *** County ** *** ************* ****, **** 2441 **. ******* * ******** ***** Francisco, ** *****
********* *** *** *******:
**: ****’* ********** **** *.*. ************** Code ***.* ********* *** ***** ****** that ******** ****** *** ********* ** May **, **** *** *** **, 2020.
** ***** **** *** (“***”) *** enacted ** ****** ****. ***** ***.*, the ********** ** ******** ** ********* the *** ** ************ ********** ***** exigent *************.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*** ***** **** **** ***** ***** that **** ********** ***** ******* *************?
* ***** **** *** ******* ** show **** ***** ********/***** ************* ***** asked *** *** *** ************ *** **************** *** **** *** **** ****** *****************.
**'* ***** *****.