Lego Tells Police To Stop Using Figure Heads In Suspect Photos
The Murrieta Police Department in California has been directed by Lego to discontinue the practice of digitally placing Lego heads on photos of suspects. This decision comes after images of suspects with Lego heads went viral on social media platforms.
Lego Doesn’t Want Their Faces On Criminals
In a statement, Murrieta Police Department Lt. Jeremy Durrant explained that Lego Group requested the cessation of using Lego heads in their social media posts. “The Lego Group reached out to us and respectfully asked us to refrain from using their intellectual property in our social media content which of course we understand and will comply with,” Durrant said. He further mentioned that the department is currently exploring alternative methods to maintain engaging content for their followers.
The Reason For Using Lego Heads
The Murrieta Police Department had been on a block party of sorts, previously utilizing Lego heads to obscure the faces of suspects in compliance with California state law. Assembly Bill 994 and Penal Code 13665, which went into effect on January 1, imposed restrictions on law enforcement agencies in California regarding the sharing of suspect photos and mugshots, especially for nonviolent crimes. The law mandates the removal of suspect mugshots from social media after 14 days, unless special circumstances apply.
In an Instagram post from Tuesday, the Murrieta Police Department clarified their use of Lego heads, stating, “In order to share what is happening in Murrieta, we chose to cover the faces of suspects to protect their identity while still aligning with the new law.” The department emphasized its commitment to transparency with the community while respecting the rights and protections of all individuals, including suspects.
The Police Department Has Been Doing This For Years
Although the Murrieta Police Department had employed the practice of obscuring suspects’ faces in social media posts for several years, Lego’s intervention halted the use of Lego heads specifically for this purpose.
“In the interest of keeping our residents updated on public safety events in our community while, at the same time, respecting the new regulations, we’ve been obscuring the faces of suspects in our social media posts in various ways. We’ve been doing this for the past couple of years, and it’s nothing new to us,” a spokesperson for the police department said.
What Will They Use Next?
While Lego may have pulled the plug on this particular pixelated parade, the Murrieta Police Department is currently brainstorming new ways they can continue sharing suspect photos on their social media without infringing on the law or any private company’s IP rights.
The Lego heads were a brilliant choice because the police department’s social media team could add silly faces and emotions to the bricks to create engaging content. Perhaps the team could do the same with emojis, animal faces, or digital disguises like animated mustaches, hats, and glasses. With the many filters available on social media, as well as new AI inventions, there is no shortage of options for the police department to choose from while complying with the law.
While Lego is no longer an option, no matter what they come up with, it’s likely going to be more engaging and entertaining than the classic blur effect we’re so used to seeing.
Source: Fox News
