An Alameda County Sheriff is under investigation after admitting he played a Taylor Swift song while confronting protestors Tuesday, hoping the copyrighted material would keep video of the argument from being viewed on YouTube.
PEOPLE reports that members of the Anti-Police Terror Project activist group were demonstrating outside an Oakland courthouse during a pretrial hearing for a former officer charged with manslaughter.
Sergeant David Shelby and fellow police officers asked the group to remove banners placed on the courthouse steps. Once Shelby noticed that one of the demonstrators started filming him, he took out his phone and began playing Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space.”
When asked why he’s listening to the music, Shelby responds, “I’m listening to my music so that you can’t post on YouTube.”
By playing the copyrighted Swift song, Shelby counted on triggering YouTube’s automated system that would remove the video.
A YouTube spokesperson told NBC Bay Area that the platform’s copyright rules are not as cut and dry as Shelby thinks. For one, the copyright music has to be loud enough. He also pointed out that it’s up to the individual label to pursue. Some will take the opportunity to monetize the content, some outright allow it, and others will have it removed.
Now, according to Sergeant Ray Kelly, the matter has been turned over to Internal Affairs.
“We are human beings, and we do get caught up in the moment. But the public expects us not to get caught up in those moments. So, this is a situation where I’m sure it won’t happen again,” Kelly said.
Check out the footage of the incident below.
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
