In a bizarre attempt to deter a Black Lives Matter activist from sharing footage of a police encounter, a California officer resorted to playing Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space.” The officer believed that the song would trigger YouTube’s copyright detection system, preventing the video from being uploaded. However, this tactic backfired, and the video ended up going viral.
The incident took place in Oakland, where the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) was gathering outside the Alameda County courthouse for a pretrial hearing concerning former officer Jason Fletcher, who is charged with the murder of Steven Taylor, a Black man, at a Walmart last year.
The footage shows an officer from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office confronting APTP member, Alex Rivera, demanding he take down their banner. Rivera questions the officer about the need to remove the banner, which prompts Sgt. David Shelby to pull out his phone and play the Swift hit. Confused, Rivera asks, “Are we starting a dance party?” Shelby then admits, “You can record, but I’m playing music so you can’t post it on YouTube.” He was attempting to exploit YouTube’s automated copyright system designed to remove unauthorized content.
When Rivera challenges him about the legality of his actions, Shelby replies, “Not that I know of.” Rivera further probes, “Is this procedure?” to which Shelby sarcastically responds, “I’m just listening to music, sir.”
Despite Shelby’s efforts, the video was successfully uploaded and quickly gained traction online. Lia Holland, communications director for the digital rights organization Fight for the Future, commented, “This incident demonstrates a troubling misuse of copyright laws to avoid accountability. The U.S. needs significant reform in its outdated copyright system to prioritize the interests of artists and the public in the digital age.”
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has since referred the matter to internal affairs for investigation. Sgt. Ray Kelly of the sheriff’s office acknowledged that the officer’s actions were misguided, stating, “He was trying to be clever, but it backfired. Instead of censoring it, it made it go viral. This is not a good look for law enforcement.”
In an age where accountability is crucial, this incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in police-community interactions.
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