In Albany, New York, legislators have successfully advanced a bill designed to maintain media access to police radio communications amidst a growing trend of law enforcement agencies encrypting these transmissions.
The newly approved measure, passed on Thursday, mandates that police departments provide journalists and emergency service organizations with the means to access their encrypted radio communications. However, the bill has provisions for withholding information that is considered “sensitive,” and the state will be required to develop specific guidelines detailing how this access will be implemented.
This legislative move is hailed as a triumph for media entities, specifically reporters and photographers who frequently listen in on such broadcasts to quickly respond to crime scenes and other significant events for news coverage.
“Ensuring continued access to police radio broadcasts is essential for the sustenance of a free press and to uphold the rights and protections granted through public transparency of these transmissions,” remarked Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Democrat who sponsored the bill.
Despite the bill’s approval, the New York Police Department advocates for encrypting radio feeds as a protective measure for both officers and crime victims.
“Encryption is a critical measure for the security of law enforcement personnel as well as the privacy of victims and witnesses,” articulated the NYPD in a formal statement. “Granting real-time access to the media could compromise officer safety and victim confidentiality.”
The bill now awaits the consideration of Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, whose office has indicated that she will evaluate the proposal.