Those using mobiles to record cops on duty may face action

THE public may run foul of the law if they use their handphones to record police carrying out their duties, says the Home Ministry.

Although using handphones for recordings is not considered an offence, it becomes an act of crime if the acts of taking photographs or videos that hampered police officers in discharging their duties, it said in a written reply.

“Taking photographs or video recordings is not an offence. However, it becomes a crime if a member of the public records a video or does a live broadcast using a handphone when the police are carrying out a raid or arrest in a public area,” the ministry said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong).

The ministry said that action could be taken against individuals for obstructing a public officer from discharging his duty and interrupting investigations.

Such acts also contravened Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act if the postings of such recordings were done with the intention to cause a disturbance to others, the ministry said.

It also clarified that the police were not empowered to carry out arbitrary seizures or checks on handphones belonging to members of the public, adding that the police could only do so if it the individual was believed to be involved in a crime which is under investigation.

“Checks on handphones can only be done if the individual concerned is suspected of committing a crime,” it said, adding that those were covered under various laws on sedition, human trafficking, serious crimes and terrorism.