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Coverage dated March 20, 2024 to March 26, 2024

Lego tells California police to stop hiding suspects’ faces with toy heads

Headline from WGN Chicago, on the newest of 2 developments

Lego has contacted a Southern California police department, demanding they stop using images of minifigure heads to protect suspects' identities after news of the practice recently went viral.

WGN Chicago's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Lego asks Murrieta Police Department to stop using Lego heads on mugshot photos

    Headline from CBS News ·

  2. Newest

    Lego tells California police to stop hiding suspects’ faces with toy heads

    Headline from WGN Chicago ·

3 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

27 articles, oldest first.

  1. ABC 7 San Francisco

    California police department uses LEGO heads to block suspects' faces in social media posts (opens ABC 7 San Francisco)

    Published

    ABC 7 San Francisco's feed description

    Murrieta Police are getting a lot of attention about the mugshots and arrest photos of suspects they're posting to their social media accounts.

  2. Foxla

    Lego instructs California police department to stop using Lego heads to mask identities of suspects (opens Foxla)

    Published

    Foxla's feed description

    The Murrieta Police Department has been instructed by Lego to stop digitally adding Lego heads onto photos of suspects, according to a recent report.

  3. CBS News

    Southern California police department using Lego heads to protect suspects (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    One Southern California police department has resorted to replacing faces with Legos instead of releasing mugshots of the suspects they arrest.

  4. Fox News

    Lego instructs California police department to stop using Lego heads to mask identities of suspects: report (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    The Murrieta Police Department has reportedly been told to stop digitally adding Lego heads onto photos of suspects, according to a recent report.

  5. PJ Media

    Lego Lineups: Company Warns California P.D. to Stop Using Lego Heads To Hide Criminal's Faces (opens PJ Media)

    Published

  6. Forbes

    California Police Department Stops Using Lego Heads For Suspect Photos After Viral Posts: Here’s Why (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    After a police department went viral for its humorous Lego-based posts, the company reached out and asked them to stop.

  7. The Republic

    Lego head mugshots add to California's debate on policing and privacy (opens The Republic)

    Published

    The Republic's feed description

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California police department has been handcuffed by Lego after the toy company asked the agency to stop adding Lego heads to cover the faces of suspects in images it shares on social media.

  8. Green Field Reporter

    Lego head mugshots add to California's debate on policing and privacy - The Daily Reporter (opens Green Field Reporter)

    Published

    Green Field Reporter's feed description

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California police department has been handcuffed by Lego after the toy company asked the agency to stop adding Lego heads to cover the faces of suspects in images it shares on social media.

  9. WGN Chicago

    Lego tells California police to stop hiding suspects’ faces with toy heads (opens WGN Chicago)

    Published

    WGN Chicago's feed description

    Lego has contacted a Southern California police department, demanding they stop using images of minifigure heads to protect suspects' identities after news of the practice recently went viral.

  10. CBS News

    Lego asks Murrieta Police Department to stop using Lego heads on mugshot photos (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    The toy company reached out and asked the department to stop using Lego heads in mugshots, as it's an infringement on intellectual property.

  11. The Guardian

    Lego tells California police: stop putting our heads on your mugshots (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Toy company makes request after altered images – which hide suspects’ identities in line with state law – go viral

  12. NBC Los Angeles

    Lego asks California police department to stop using its minifigure heads on suspect mugshots (opens NBC Los Angeles)

    Published

    NBC Los Angeles's feed description

    A Southern California police department has been handcuffed by Lego after the toy company asked the agency to stop adding Lego heads to cover the faces of...

  13. NBC News

    Lego requests California police department stop using their toy heads to cover suspect mugshots (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    The toy company Lego requested a Southern California police department refrain from using the company's toy heads to hide the identities of suspects in photos shared on social media.

  14. Anchorage Daily News

    Lego calls for a halt to California police department’s use of toy heads in mugshots (opens Anchorage Daily News)

    Published

    Anchorage Daily News's feed description

    A state law that took effect this year lilmits police in sharing arrest mugshots on social media.

  15. Quartz

    Lego asked the cops to please stop sticking Lego heads on suspected criminals' faces (opens Quartz)

    Published

    Quartz's feed description

    A local California police department said it started the practice to comply with a new state law

  16. Insider

    A California police force is in trouble with Lego after using its signature yellow heads to hide the faces of suspected criminals (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    The Murrieta Police Department has been editing Lego heads onto suspects to protect their identities.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Lego tells California police to stop hiding suspects’ faces with toy heads | Since Then