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Lego Directs California Police Department to Cease Usage of Lego Heads to Conceal Suspects’ Identities
Lego has officially requested the Murrieta Police Department in California to discontinue the practice of utilizing images of Lego toys to obscure suspects’ identities in their social media posts. The use of Lego-headed individuals in the department’s posts gained widespread attention last week, becoming a viral sensation.
Lieutenant Jeremy Durrant of the Murrieta Police Department confirmed that Lego had reached out to them regarding this matter. Durrant stated, “The Lego Group contacted us and requested that we refrain from incorporating their intellectual property into our social media content, a request that we fully comprehend and intend to adhere to. We are currently exploring alternative approaches to present our content in a manner that remains engaging and captivating for our followers.”
Adherence to State Privacy Legislation
On Instagram last Tuesday, the Murrieta Police Department disclosed their decision to employ Lego heads as a means of compliance with a newly enacted state privacy law. According to the post, “On January 1st, a new law took effect that imposes restrictions on how and when law enforcement agencies in California can share suspect photos and mugshots.”
“Assembly Bill 994 and Penal Code 13665 now mandate that law enforcement refrain from disseminating suspect photos for nonviolent offenses unless specific circumstances apply. Moreover, the legislation necessitates the removal of suspect mugshots from social media platforms after a period of 14 days, unless distinct exemptions are present.”
The post went on to emphasize the department’s commitment to transparency with the community while concurrently upholding the rights and protections guaranteed by law, even for suspects. As a strategic measure to relay information about incidents in Murrieta, the decision was made to obscure suspects’ faces in compliance with the new law.
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