Los Angeles Police Department requested that officers gather social media information in their interviews with civilians. This was regardless of whether the individuals were involved in a crime. This practice was revealed by public records from the Brennan Center for Justice. It is part of a larger LAPD strategy to monitor social media.
According to the Brennan Center, Charlie Beck, LAPD Police Chief, stated that social media accounts and nicknames can be helpful to investigators. He also suggested that officers collect information about email accounts and social media when they fill out field interview reports. These forms were then updated to include specific questions about social media data.
According to previous reports, the LAPD compiles field interview data into a database maintained by Palantir. Officers can, but are not required, to record field interview cards for any person they come in contact with. People who are stopped by the police could be subject to further online surveillance, regardless of whether or not they are under investigation. A spokesperson for the LAPD told The Guardian that interview forms were being updated, but did not explain what it included. The Verge also requested clarification from the LAPD press office.
These documents provide more information about the LAPD's collaboration with online surveillance companies, a practice that many police departments are involved in. The LAPD used Twitter analytics firm Dataminr in 2016 to get alerts about shooting and bomb threats. It also tracked the movements of anti-Trump protesters during May Day. Geofeedia, a tracking service that was blocked by Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, was also used by the department to monitor protest-related keywords like #BlackLivesMatter or #FuckDonaldTrump. The LAPD appears to have signed a contract with Media Sonar, which promises the ability to find digital footprints automatically in a matter of seconds.
