Body Cameras: From Surveillance to Profit

Body cameras were initially introduced as a tool to protect police officers and reduce liability. However, they have been predominantly used to prosecute low-level offenses among poor people, rather than holding police accountable. While there have been instances of police corruption caught on body cameras, these are rare exceptions. The main function of body cameras is for surveillance and processing guilty pleas, leading to significant financial gains for the body camera industry. Research shows that the stock prices of companies in the policing and surveillance sector increase after incidents of police violence against unarmed black individuals, indicating that such violence benefits the industry financially by prompting increased spending on technology and training for law enforcement.