S.913 would make police dashcam videos subject to FOIA. While this could help punish and prevent abuses of police power, it could also enable the use of dashcam video by third parties for purposes of shaming or profit. Lawmakers should proceed with caution when bills prevent serious threats to privacy. A good balance (absent from this bill) might be restricting FOIA requests for dashcam recordings to those who are the subject of such recordings (or their legal representatives).
By South Carolina Policy Council
Since 1986 the South Carolina Policy Council Education Foundation has advocated innovative policy ideas that advance the principles of limited government and free enterprise. The Policy Council is the state’s meeting place for business leaders, policymakers, and academics – as well as engaged citizens – who want to see South Carolina become the most free state in the nation. For questions or comments on the articles on this website, please email Research Director Jamie Murguia.