Systems and methods for bulk redaction of recorded data
Systems and methods for redacting information from data records are provided. Data records are recorded by recording devices, including, but not limited to, camera recording devices such as those associated with law-enforcement officers. The data records are stored in an evidence management system. In response to requests for records, including but not limited to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, the evidence management system creates redacted versions of the data records. Public access may then be provided to the redacted data records. In some embodiments, automated bulk redaction may be applied to video data records by applying a video filter to the entire visual field of the video information. In some embodiments, access to the redacted data records may be provided via a cloud storage system or via a removable computer-readable storage medium.
1. A system for processing digital video data, the system comprising: at least one digital video camera; and an evidence management system comprising at least one computing device; wherein the evidence management system is configured to: receive digital video files from the at least one digital video camera; store the digital video files in a storage location protected from public access; receive a command to redact a first digital video file of the digital video files; based on the command, redact information from the first digital video file and automatically redact information from a second digital video file of the digital video files to create redacted digital video files; and store the redacted digital video files in a storage location available to public access; and wherein redacting information from the digital video files includes applying a blur filter to an entirety of visual content of the digital video files.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the evidence management system is further configured to: combine the redacted digital video files in a compressed format to create a package file; and
store the package file in the storage location available to public access.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the evidence management system is further configured to:
transmit a link referencing the storage location available to public access to allow retrieval of the package file.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage location available to public access is a cloud storage system.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein storing the redacted digital video files in a storage location available to public access includes storing the redacted digital video files on a removable computer-readable medium.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein redacting information from the digital video files includes removing audio information from the digital video files.
7. A computer-implemented method for automatically redacting records captured by recording devices, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, a command to redact a first data record, wherein the first data record includes a digital video file;
applying, by the computing device, a blur filter to an entire visual field of the digital video file to create a first redacted data record;
storing, by the computing device, the first redacted data record in a staging location; based on the command, automatically applying the blur filter by the computing device to a second data record to create a second redacted data record, the second redacted data record including information obfuscated by the application of the blur filter; storing the second redacted data record in the staging location; and providing access to the redacted data records.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising removing, by the computing device, audio information from the digital video file.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein providing access to the redacted data records includes:
transforming the redacted data records into a format for production; and
copying the transformed redacted data records to a production location.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein copying the transformed redacted data records to a production location includes copying the transformed redacted data records to a removable computer-readable medium.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein transforming the redacted data records includes creating a compressed file that includes one or more of the redacted data records, and wherein copying the transformed redacted data records includes copying the compressed file to a cloud storage location.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein providing access to the redacted data records includes transmitting a link to the cloud storage location.
13. The method of claim 7 further comprising presenting a web interface to a user that includes:
a list of data records; and
interface elements for submitting commands to redact data records in the list of data records.
14. A computing device configured to automatically redact records captured by recording devices, by:
receiving a command to redact a first data record captured by a first recording device;
applying a blur filter to the first data record to create a first redacted data record;
storing the first redacted data record in a staging location;
based on the command, automatically applying the blur filter to a second data record to create a second redacted data record, the second redacted data record including information obfuscated by the application of the blur filter;
storing the second redacted data record in the staging location; and
providing access to the redacted data records.
15. The computing device of claim 14 further configured to remove audio information from the first data record.
16. The computing device of claim 14 wherein providing access to the redacted data records includes:
transforming the redacted data records into a format for production; and
copying the transformed redacted data records to a production location.
17. The computing device of claim 16 wherein copying the transformed redacted data records to a production location includes copying the transformed redacted data records to a removable computer-readable medium.
18. The computing device of claim 16 wherein transforming the redacted data records includes creating a compressed file that includes one or more of the redacted data records, and wherein copying the transformed redacted data records includes copying the compressed file to a cloud storage location.
19. The computing device of claim 18 wherein providing access to the redacted data records includes transmitting a link to the cloud storage location.
20. The computing device of claim 14 further configured to present a web interface to a user that includes:
a list of data records; and
interface elements for submitting commands to redact data records in the list of data records.