The Federal Police Camera and Accountability Act requires all federal law enforcement officers to wear body cameras during public interactions and establishes strict rules for how footage must be handled and disclosed to the public. Officers must activate cameras during all encounters with the public (except when safety prohibits it), notify people they are being recorded, and honor requests from crime victims and informants to stop recording. The law prohibits facial recognition technology on cameras, requires footage to be kept for at least six months (extended to three years for incidents involving force or complaints), and mandates public disclosure of footage under federal records laws with limited exceptions. Officers must complete incident reports before viewing footage, and violations of these requirements result in disciplinary action and create legal advantages for criminal defendants and civil plaintiffs challenging police conduct. The requirements apply only to federal law enforcement officers while performing their official duties.
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