NY State bill (S.416/A.3516) to allow journalists access to encrypted police radio communications

[mmckenna]

I remember reading about the threat encryption posed to the hobby 30+ years ago in Pop Comm magazine. While the number of departments going "E" has increased dramatically in recent years, it should not come as a shock.

It shouldn't, yet people still love to have something to be outraged about.

Other cities, such as Boston, Chicago and Baltimore, have provided delayed feeds. I see no reason why New York cannot do the same. At the very least, credentialed media outlets should be able to have accesss to dispatch channel transmissions. Just my two cents, and it's free.

The issues with that is the delayed feeds do nothing to address the core issues.
The FBI/DOJ have requirements that CJI/PII -must- be protected in all forms and at all times. Zero exceptions. States/counties/cities can make up their own rules, but if any of the CJI/PII pass through the feds, then they -must- abide by the federal rules.

Delayed feeds do absolutely nothing to protect the CJI/PII.

While cities like Boston, Chicago and Baltimore may be using them, eventually they'll need to comply with the federal requirements. Only way around that is to keep the CJI/PII off the dispatch channels and restrict that to other encrypted channels.
Trouble with that is that there's no room for error. Protected info being transmitted in the clear, even accidentally, does not get a waiver or pass just because it was an accident.

 

[nikronzo]

Delayed feeds do absolutely nothing to protect the CJI/PII.

And all these places have CJIS and records channels that have already been encrypted for years and comply with these regulations. Its the dispatchers and officers that need to be trained properly to keep sensitive information off the channels that the public can hear. No more excuses that cops and dispatchers cant use a radio or console properly, train the damn personal to be better at their job. Im sick and tired of hearing that cops dont know how to navigate a radio from channel 1 to channel 8 so they can run a plate or transmit a SSN to a dispatcher.
Additionally, Boston and Chicago have set the standard for encrypting yet keeping public transparency through delayed feeds. Telling officers/PS personnel that their channels are never gonna be heard by the public is sloppy practice and leads to things being said on the air that should never happen. Its also the mark of a lousy department that wants complete control of the narrative because they dont want to keep up standards.

 

[nikronzo]

There are a few counties around NYC that made talkgroups for EMS to ER that get zero usage. So an encrypted TAC will change none of that.

NYC has a encrypted TG that is used ALL the time for transmitting that exact info from field personnel to dispatch to the ER, and that TG is busier than you can imagine all day.

 

[55engine]

if Boston has delays, I don't see no feed. I know Chicago does.

 

[Thunderknight]

if Boston has delays, I don't see no feed. I know Chicago does.

They are hosted by RapidSOS (a big name in the 911 ecosystem): RapidSOS Live Audio