The toy company Lego asked a police department in southern California in the US to stop uses Lego heads to cover the faces of suspects in images he shares on social media.
According to Guardian's Murrieta Police Department has been using emojis and Lego heads to cover up suspects' faces in social media posts since at least early 2023. But the altered photos went viral last week after the department posted a statement about its policy, subsequently prompting a backlash from Lego.
“Why the masked faces?” the department wrote in an Instagram post on March 18, which featured five people in a row, their faces covered by Lego heads with different expressions. And he cited a California law that went into effect Jan. 1 that restricts police departments from sharing photos of arrests on social media.
“The Murrieta Police Department prides itself on being open with the community, but also honors the rights and protections of all as afforded by law – even of the suspects,” the department wrote.
Under California's new law, police departments and sheriffs' offices are now required to remove any arrest photos they share on social media – including people arrested for violent crimes – within 14 days , unless there are special circumstances; for example, if the person remains a fugitive and poses an immediate threat to public safety.
Lego's response
On March 19, Lego contacted the Murrieta Police Department and “respectfully requested that we not use their intellectual property in social media content, which of course we understand, and we will comply.” Deputy Chief Jeremy Durant said in a statement.
“We are currently exploring other methods to continue to publish our content in a way that is engaging and interesting to our followers,” Durant said.< /p>
Lego, which is based in Billund, Denmark, refused to take a public position on the matter.
source: CNN Greece
