In December 2025, a key development in California’s public safety landscape made national headlines. Prosecutors Alliance Action, a group of former and current prosecutors dedicated to advancing justice and public trust, filed an amicus brief urging a federal court to uphold California’s No Secret Police Act and related transparency measures.
At its core, this case is about the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It highlights a shared principle that resonates deeply with those of us at Privacy for Cops: trust and safety depend not only on clear, accountable policing but also on ensuring that the individuals who protect us are themselves protected.
- Here is how these issues intersect
- Why they matter
- And what it means for law enforcement officers, public officials and the public at large
Understanding the No Secret Police Act
California’s No Secret Police Act (Senate Bill 627) and its companion, the No Vigilantes Act (SB 805), represent a bold shift in how the state approaches policing accountability. These laws were designed to ensure that any law enforcement officer operating in the state is clearly identifiable and accountable to the public.
Under these laws:
- Law enforcement officers may not cover their faces or obscure their identity while performing official duties, except in narrowly defined situations such as undercover operations.
- Officers must clearly display identification during interactions with the public.
This kind of transparency helps establish trust between officers and community members. When people know who is engaging with them, there is less fear, less confusion and greater confidence in law enforcement. It also supports prosecutors by reinforcing the integrity of investigations and discouraging impersonation and related crimes.
But the law has not gone unchallenged. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit seeking to block parts of these measures. In response, Prosecutors Alliance Action argued that the state’s interest in transparency and accountability outweighs the federal claims. The organization stressed that when law enforcement operates without accountability, public trust erodes, and prosecutions are damaged.
Why This Matters to Privacy for Cops
At first glance, a law focused on policing transparency might seem unrelated to what Privacy for Cops does. Our core mission is protecting the online privacy and personal safety of law enforcement officers, public officials, and their families.
But in today’s world, the digital and the physical are connected in powerful ways. Confidentiality is not a luxury. For those who serve and protect, it is a matter of personal safety and operational security.
Here’s how it all ties together.
The Increasing Digital Risk for Law Enforcement
Law enforcement professionals are tasked with confronting danger in their line of duty. They face physical threats every day. But there is another type of threat that is just as real and just as worrisome: digital exposure.
- Personal data on the internet, whether names, home addresses, family information or other sensitive details, can be accessed at alarming ease through online databases, data brokers and people search websites.
- In some documented cases, this information has been used by criminals to intimidate, harass or threaten officers and their families.
- We know that as technology evolves, the ability for bad actors to gather, compile and misuse this data expands rapidly. This includes social media scraping, public record aggregators and other automated tools that expose sensitive personal details.
For officers and public officials, being visible in their role is part of the job. But at the same time, their private personal information online should not be publicly accessible.
That is where Privacy for Cops steps in.
What Privacy for Cops Does
Privacy for Cops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping law enforcement officers, public officials and their families protect their personal information online.
What does that mean in practical terms?
- We help remove personal data from online directories and data brokers that make it easy for criminals to access sensitive information.
- We provide ongoing monitoring to make sure data does not reappear after removal.
- We guide clients on privacy best practices to reduce their online footprint and stay safer in a digital world.
This work complements broader public safety objectives. Just as transparency laws like the No Secret Police Act help build community trust, privacy protections help ensure that officers can do their jobs without compromising their safety at home and online.
Why Transparency and Privacy Must Coexist
Transparency and privacy might seem like opposite values. But in the context of law enforcement, they are both essential.
On one side, transparency ensures that police actions are accountable. It builds understanding between officers and community members, and it strengthens the legitimacy of legal processes. Community trust makes it more likely that witnesses will come forward, evidence will be shared and prosecutions will hold up in court.
On the other side, privacy ensures that officers and public officials are not put at risk because of their publicly known position. Unlike public actions taken in an official capacity, private life details have no place in the public domain if their disclosure exposes individuals to harm.
These principles work together:
- Transparency in operations builds trust and accountability
- Privacy in personal information builds safety and security
Protecting one should not come at the expense of the other. Instead, we must advocate for legal and technological frameworks that respect both values.
The Changing Landscape of Public Safety
The ongoing federal challenge to California’s transparency laws underscores a broader debate about state authority, federal oversight and the future of policing. At the same time, the digital age poses new challenges that lawmakers, prosecutors, officers and community leaders must address together.
Public safety is not static. It evolves with technology, society and the law. Today, officers are vulnerable not only to physical threats but also digital ones. And these threats require comprehensive responses that combine good policy, community engagement and security-minded practices.
That is why organizations like Prosecutors Alliance Action and Privacy for Cops matter.
Prosecutors Alliance Action advocates for transparency and accountability that strengthens the justice system. Privacy for Cops advances protections that allow the individuals who serve the public to live securely in an increasingly interconnected world.
Both are efforts to make law enforcement safer, more trusted and more resilient.
What You Can Do
Protecting safety and strengthening community trust starts with awareness and action.
For law enforcement officers, public officials and their families:
- Understand the risks posed by online data exposure. Even seemingly harmless information can be used maliciously.
- Take steps to remove your personal information from public databases. Tools exist to make this process easier and more effective.
- Adjust privacy settings on social media and review what information is visible to the public.
- Stay informed about transparency and accountability initiatives that affect public safety and law enforcement practices.
For community members:
- Support policies that encourage accountability and protect civil liberties.
- Understand that officer safety and community trust are interconnected.
- Advocate for technology and practices that protect all residents, including those who serve.
Closing Thoughts
The debate over policing transparency and digital privacy is not abstract. It affects real people, real families and the very fabric of public safety. Laws like California’s No Secret Police Act seek to restore trust and accountability in policing. At the same time, digital privacy protections underpin the safety of those who protect our communities.
At Privacy for Cops, we believe that safety and trust go hand in hand. We are committed to helping those who serve protect themselves and their families from the rising risks of digital exposure. We encourage officers and public officials to take proactive steps in securing their personal information.
If you have not already done so, now is the time to act.