N.M. City Sees Jump in Records Requests for Police Bodycam Video
What to know
- Albuquerque has seen a 69% increase in public records requests in early fiscal year 2026, with many seeking police body camera video, according to City Clerk Ethan Watson.
- Watson said individuals—including requesters from out of state and overseas—are now among the highest‑volume filers, and many requests appear to be AI‑generated to collect raw police footage for online monetization.
- The spike has strained staff capacity, created delays for complex video requests and prompted lawmakers to launch a review of New Mexico’s public records law.
Officials say a surge in requests for police body camera video is overwhelming a New Mexico city’s public records system.
City Clerk Ethan Watson said Albuquerque received 4,509 Inspection of Public Records Act requests in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, marking a 69% jump from the same period last year, KOST‑TV reports. Many of those filings sought Albuquerque Police Department body camera footage.
Watson said the city believes automated “content generators” are scraping police video online and submitting AI‑driven requests to gather raw footage for monetized YouTube channels. He also noted that individuals—including some from Arkansas, Arizona and Pakistan—have become some of the highest‑volume requesters for the first time.
International submissions made up roughly 10.5% of police‑related requests but accounted for 21% of staff time because of the extensive redaction needed with video files. Watson said the clerk’s office can close about half of all requests within 15 days, but complex requests are increasingly pushing response times higher.
State law prevents the city from prioritizing local requests over those submitted from out of state or overseas, contributing to a growing backlog. The clerk’s office has grown from four full‑time employees to 30 in six years, but Watson said demand continues to outpace capacity.
Watson added that other custodians across New Mexico are seeing similar spikes. Lawmakers have formed a task force to review the state’s public records law, with recommendations expected this fall.