Oakland Police Among Bay Area Agencies Encrypting Radio Traffic, Drawing Transparency Concerns

Oakland, CA – The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is moving to fully encrypt its radio communications, a decision that will end decades of public access to real-time police activity and aligns with a growing trend among law enforcement agencies across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. This significant shift is being implemented to comply with a state privacy directive from the California Department of Justice (DOJ), though critics argue the measure goes too far in limiting public transparency.

The California DOJ issued a bulletin in October 2020, instructing law enforcement agencies to protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of victims, witnesses, and suspects transmitted over radio. Agencies were given the option to either establish detailed policies to prevent PII broadcast on open channels or encrypt all radio traffic. Many departments, including OPD, have chosen the latter, citing operational efficiency and the need to secure sensitive data.

This widespread move impacts how the public, media, and even third-party scanner applications can monitor police operations in real-time. The Oakland Police Department, which has been under federal oversight for over two decades, stated that encrypting channels is a critical step in strengthening operational security and enhancing the safety of first responders. City officials have also indicated a commitment to releasing recordings of radio traffic upon request, particularly for media.

However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from journalists and public accountability advocates. KTVU reporter Henry K. Lee highlighted the regional scope of the change, stating in a recent social media post:

"UPDATE: @oaklandpoliceca, like just about every police agency in Alameda & Contra Costa, set to cut off radio traffic to public to abide by state privacy directive. Critics say they didn’t have to go this far." Critics, including civil rights attorney John Burris, argue that such encryption fosters secrecy and hinders the public's ability to monitor police conduct, potentially leading to less accountability.

Transparency advocates contend that less restrictive alternatives, such as redacting sensitive information or using secure channels for specific data, could achieve compliance without resorting to full radio silence. Efforts by State Senator Josh Becker to introduce legislation aimed at restoring public access to police communications have repeatedly failed. The ongoing debate underscores the tension between privacy protection for individuals and the public's right to information regarding law enforcement activities.