An SF Journalist Took Photos of ICE Officers. Then He Was Asked to Blur Their Faces | KQED
Briefly

The article discusses a request made by ICE for a media outlet, The Standard, to blur faces of its personnel in photos due to safety concerns. Jeff Bercovici, the managing editor, recognized that complying could establish a dangerous precedent, limiting coverage of government and law enforcement activities. David Loy of the First Amendment Coalition reinforces that there are no legal barriers against publishing such images and cautions against any coercive tactics from government entities. ICE's routine requests highlight broader issues concerning media freedom and the influence of government on press operations.
ICE spokesperson Richard Beam reached out to request that the faces of some personnel be blurred in a published photo due to safety concerns, indicating they respect the media's rights.
Managing editor Jeff Bercovici stated that granting ICE's request could set a dangerous precedent for media outlets, impacting coverage of powerful individuals involved in controversial policies.
David Loy emphasized that while officials can request altered images, there is no legal obligation for media to comply, affirming the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity.
Beam mentioned that ICE routinely makes such requests, though the Standard is reportedly the only outlet to receive one, raising questions about media freedom and government influence.
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