How Do You Use FOIA to Request for Video Recordings?
FOIA laws allow consumers to make a video request from relevant government agencies by submitting a request describing the information they want in the format they want it in. Consumers should be aware that government agencies are not required to answer research questions, do research, to create records in response to their request, or analyze data for them.
Consumers should also know that FOIA requires federal and local agencies to release certain information (e.g. copies of records that have been granted public access) automatically without the need for them to make a request. So, before any consumer sends an FOIA request, it is a good idea to look at government agency websites first and see what is already available online.
Any person who wishes to make a video recording request from a municipality or police department must do so within 2 months (60 days) from when the video recording was made. Such requests must be submitted personally or by certified mail. The FOIA request must include:
- The location, time, and date of the event recorded;
- Statements describing a requester’s connection to the recorded event;
- Identities of people present during the recording time if an incident took place inside a particular residence. The only exception to this point is when a person cannot ascertain such identities or if the requester does not know the people who were present at the time of the recording.
Once a consumer files a request, the municipal or police department has up to a month (30 days) to respond. In some cases, the agency and the requester can come to an agreement to extend the time to respond to a request. Simple FOIA requests are processed faster compared to complex requests. While simpler requests only seek several pages of records, more complex requests require additional steps to process high volumes of material. If consumers have any questions regarding their request, they can consult with FOIA’s Requester Service Center.
Consumers may request FOIA for video to understand cause of a car accident. Source: Internet.
Blur Partial License Plates
We also tuned our neural networks to support partial license plates. This is important because a video stream may show an individual walking across a license plate. Each frame of the video may not show the full vehicle plate, but over a 10 second video, the viewer can easily figure out the full license plate.
Also, in a situations where 5 characters of the plate are shown, viewers have a good shot at figuring out the identity of the vehicle based on the city, state, vehicle make, model and color, and the 5 plate characters.
So by blurring the partial plate, we eliminate any chance that personally identifiable information (PII) can be identified.
Blur partial license to elimnate chance that PII information can be obtained from part of a license plate in view. Source: Internet.
Blur Dented, Slanted License Plates
A TV broadcaster may want to give a traffic update as a result of a multi-car accident. To protect the privacy of the individuals involved, it’s important to blur the plates that may be dented or slanted as a result of the collision.
To that end, we have enhanced our software engine to capture dented and slanted plates.
Blur a dented plate that may result from a car accident. Source: Internet.
Blur a slanted plate that may result from a vehicle going into the side of the embankment. Source: Internet.
Blur Upside-Down License Plates
Sometimes, the traffic accident or crime scene may result in cars flipped upside-down. We have also improved our ANPR engine to identify and blur license plates of inverted vehicles.
Blur license plate of a vehicle turned upside-down. Source: Internet.
Blur Multiple License Plates In Image
Without saying, aside from protecting the main vehicle in view, it is critical to anonymize other car plates that are in the image or video. This helps to protect the identities of all individuals involved.
Blur all car plates in an image or video. Source: Internet.