Police will soon be equipped with a device to prevent citizens from filming them. This device the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been developing under the codename dazzler. The Dazzler sends out pulses of light that causes lens flare and color distortions in a limited zone.
This light is not visible to the human eye so during police contacts the average citizen will not notice it. Camera sensors, on the other hand, will become overwhelmed by the wavelengths creating un-viewable sections of the video.
Doug Quaid a DOJ spokesperson said this technology has been in the works for over a year. “The sticking point was creating filters so police dash camera systems still worked. We wanted something to stop the flow of CopBlock videos, but still, give the police an ability to record evidence they needed.”
The filter is not a physical filter that most people would think of. It is a software synchronization system.
“We have the dash cameras synched to Dazzler unit the police have on. Being a software filter it makes it harder for the CopBlockers to figure out a way to still record. Even if they do, we can update the software to overcome their hacks.”
Various manufactures are already producing the Dazzler. Grant money has been earmarked to make sure that any department wanting units will be able to get them. DOJ sources say departments will start to get shipments of units later this week.