The ACLU Is Arming Lawyers to Expose State Surveillance Secrets

The ACLU released a legal toolkit to help defense lawyers identify police surveillance tech and preserve records before they are deleted or withheld.

The motions focus on evidence like license plate reader data, AI-generated police report drafts, body-camera audio, and gunshot-detection records.

Massachusetts law and a recent case, Commonwealth v. McCarthy, serve as the model for broader use of the toolkit.

The effort could help criminal defendants uncover hidden surveillance evidence and challenge due process and admissibility issues in court.