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NYPD Cuts Back on Videotaping, Civil Liberties Group Says

NYPD policy allowed officers to videotape political demonstrations

Monday, Nov 10, 2008 | Updated 2:00 PM EST

NYPD Cuts Back on Videotaping, Civil Liberties Group Says

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A civil rights group says the New York Police Department has quietly dropped a policy allowing officers to videotape political demonstrations.

A civil rights group says the New York Police Department has quietly dropped a policy allowing officers to videotape political demonstrations at will.

The New York Civil Liberties Union had challenged the practice in a federal lawsuit following the 2004 Republican National Convention. The suit alleged that roving teams of officers armed with video cameras infringed on free speech by taping protests.

The group said Monday that a newly disclosed internal NYPD order had restored restrictions on the taping. Police and city officials had no immediate response.