TRENTON, NJ – In a move to enhance privacy protections, Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25) has introduced a legislative bill aimed at curbing the misuse of Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests, particularly involving young individuals captured in body-worn camera (BWC) footage.
The bill addresses a growing concern over the exploitation of young women, who have been recorded in body-worn cameras during law enforcement interactions, by individuals seeking to leverage these records for financial gain on social media platforms. This misuse of the OPRA system has raised significant privacy issues.
Under the proposed bill, S4261, any person who obtains a body-worn camera recording through OPRA and is not a subject of the recording would be prohibited from disclosing the footage without prior written consent from each individual featured in the video. Exceptions would be made for disclosures serving a legitimate public health, safety purpose, or a compelling public interest.
Senator Bucco emphasized that while body-worn cameras are pivotal for police transparency, it is crucial to prevent their misuse. The bill seeks to balance the need for public access to records with the protection of individual privacy, specifically targeting bad-faith actors exploiting these provisions for personal benefit.