Movie Review: Strange Days

Submitted by:

Chinmayi Patil

UID- UG21-34

Academic Year:2022-2023

B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) 3rd Year, 5th Semester

Submitted to:

Prof. Dr. Deesha Khaire

Professor of Law and Technology

November 2023

Maharashtra National Law University

SR TABLE OF CONTENTS PG
NO. NO.

1. MOVIE PLOT 2

2. APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE MOVIE 4

3. POTRAYAL OF MISUSE OF TECHNOLOGY 5

4. ALTERNATIVE STORYLINE 6

5. ISSUES RAISED BY THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY 7

6. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 8

7. AVAILABLE LEGAL FRAMEWORK 9

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MOVIE PLOT

In the final two days of 1999, Los Angeles descends into chaos, resembling a war zone. During a criminal
heist at a Chinese restaurant, the incident is captured by a robber wearing a SQUID—a device that records
memories and sensations directly from the cerebral cortex. Lenny Nero, a former LAPD officer turned illicit
dealer of SQUID recordings, purchases the footage and becomes entangled in a web of corruption.
Meanwhile, a prostitute named Iris, linked to Lenny's ex-girlfriend Faith, is pursued by LAPD officers
Steckler and Engelman.

Lenny, yearning for Faith, seeks solace from his friends Mace and Max. Mace, a loyal companion and
limousine driver, harbors unrequited feelings for Lenny. The trio's lives intertwine when Iris drops a SQUID
disc into Lenny's car, setting off a series of events. The disc reveals a horrifying scene: Iris being brutally
attacked at the Sunset Regent hotel. Confronting a grim reality, Lenny and Mace embark on a quest for
justice.

They discover Iris was with rapper Jeriko One when Steckler and Engelman murdered him due to his anti-
police activism. Tick, Lenny's supplier, is rendered brain-dead from exposure to amplified SQUID signals.
Fearing for Faith's safety, Lenny and Mace confront her at a nightclub, unveiling Philo Gant's role. Philo, a
music mogul managing Jeriko One, is implicated in surveillance and corruption.

As tensions rise, Lenny and Mace grapple with whether to trade Iris's disc for Faith's freedom or expose the
truth publicly. A looming citywide riot adds complexity to their decision. The narrative takes a dark turn
when Lenny discovers Philo brain-dead and Max's involvement in Iris's murder. Max, acting on Philo's
orders, also aims to kill Faith. A confrontation ensues, resulting in Max's demise at Lenny's hands.

Amidst the chaos on the streets, Mace confronts Steckler and Engelman, facing police brutality. The crowd
intervenes, resisting the violent officers and marking a symbolic victory against corruption. Commissioner
Strickland, armed with evidence from Mace's tape, orders her release and arrests the corrupt officers for
Jeriko's murder. Engelman's suicide and Steckler's demise follow, leading to Faith's arrest.

The film concludes with Lenny finding Mace, injured but alive, amidst the celebratory chaos of the new
millennium. Their kiss symbolizes a triumphant moment, echoing a collective resistance against corruption
and injustice.

In this complex narrative, the convergence of technology, corruption, and personal relationships paints a
dystopian picture of a society on the brink. The misuse of SQUID technology becomes a catalyst for
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exposing deep-rooted corruption, with Lenny and Mace navigating a treacherous landscape to unveil the
truth. The city's descent into chaos serves as a backdrop for a larger societal struggle against corrupt forces.

As characters grapple with moral, ethical, social, economic, and political dilemmas, the film explores the
consequences of unchecked technological power. The legal implications, if this were a reality, would be
profound. Invasion of privacy, unauthorized recordings, and cybercrimes depicted in the movie could lead to
severe legal consequences under existing laws.

Internationally, provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognize the right to privacy, condemning arbitrary
interference. The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime criminalizes illegal access and data interference,
addressing the movie's themes. Additionally, WIPO Copyright Treaty principles could be applied to
unauthorized distribution of recorded experiences.

On a national level, Indian legal frameworks such as Sections 43A and 72A of the Information Technology
Act address privacy concerns. Criminal laws, like Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, specifically target
voyeurism. Cybersecurity laws in Sections 43, 66, and 70 of the IT Act address unauthorized access and
hacking. Constitutional protections under Article 21 safeguard the right to privacy.

The film also raises questions about the societal impact of technology and the potential for misuse. The
alternative storyline, where SQUID technology is responsibly regulated, explores a world where the positive
applications of virtual reality take center stage. This narrative emphasizes the legal and ethical use of SQUID
technology, focusing on its positive impact on society, exploration of memories, and technological
advancements.

APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE MOVIE

1. What application of technology is depicted in the movie?

In the abovementioned movie the protagonist, Lenny Nero of the movie is a former cop who gets into the
illegal business of selling devices that store and display emotions and feeling to the person wearing the
devices. The device known as SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) and is a DVD like
machine which records cerebral memories of different people. In the movie the technology of the SQUID
device enables people to see and feel the memories of some other person. Despite the portrayal of misuse of
technology, the device helps uncover the prevailing racism in the Los Angeles Police Department.
In the movie, Iris, one of the friends of the protagonist, is being chased. Iris is accompanied by a renowned
black rapper known as Jeriko One. In the later part of the movie, in the disc shared by Iris, it is revealed that
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two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, had killed the black rapper in cold blood.
Therefore, through the DVD disc, the inherent bias and racism present in the enforcement forces of the
nation was revealed. One of the recordings helped undercover the murder and the alleged racket operated by
a Music Mogul named Philo Gant.
In the movie, the technology is used by people to record and feel memories stored in the cerebral cortex of
the brain. In my opinion, the device was rather an extension of technology for the propagation and
distribution of pornography and violence, as it enables the person using the device see and feel the memories
recorded.

POTRAYAL OF MISUSE OF TECHNOLOGY

2. Whether the movie portrays use or misuse of technology?
The first concerning factor in the usage and distribution of this particular device called SQUID in the movie
is the lack of consent of the person whose memories are recorded, secondly the memories are illegally
distributed amongst the public and thirdly the technology is misused in several ways such as pornography
and violence. In the movie, the device is mostly used by the people for sexual arousal and threat and
inducement. The difference between TV or DVD and this device is that, while television and media enable
us to see the things played before us, this device (SQUID) also allows the person to feel and taste the
recorded memories, further adding to the experience of the viewer.
In the movie, the protagonist, Lenny has separated from his former lover, who broke of her ties to launch her
career as a singer and is now in a relationship with the business tycoon Philo Gant. He is unable to move on
from his former relationship and thus in order to relive the memories shared between him and Faith, he
rewatches clips of them together through SQUID. He ends up getting addicted to rewatching those clips and
it becomes even more harder for him to move on from the relationships. Some memories are meant to fade
away with time, however this device keeps haunting the person using the interference device. The movie is
an apt representation of the obsession of the current generation with social media and YouTube. This movie
depicted how imagery can be used to incite and generate feelings in the person using the device, and a
similar analogy can be drawn with that of social media of today’s time. People often associate and compare
their personal lives to what is shown on online and end up in a spiral of depression. This device is also used
for pornography, violence and manipulation.
The black market that Lenny is involved in deals with the illegal selling of DVD discs and the SQUID
device which enables the viewer feel and sense the cerebral memories of a person. The memories are
recorded without the knowledge and consent of the person whom the memories originally belong to. The
memories are further used for wrong purposes. This is prevalent in the present times as well, for example,
there have been many instances where naked pictures and videos of women are recorded, for manipulation
and are then threatened under the pretext of circulation.
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In the movie, the music mogul, Philo Gant, out of paranoia, keeps a check on his artists and controls them.
Similarly, devices can be used by people holding power to monitor people and in turn can be manipulated
into doing things going against their will. The cookies website similarly collects private data and monitor our
activity. Such data can, at times, be misused.
In the movie, Max, one of the closest friends of Lenny (protagonist), tries to falsely frame Lenny for the
murder of 3 other characters of the movies, through the recorded videos of the murder. This sets as an
example how technology can be materially changed for the wrong purposes.

ALTERNATIVE STORYLINE
3. What could be the storyline/plot/climax of the movie if technology application was not used/misused
in the way it was done in the movie?
The plot of "Strange Days" would probably take a different turn with various conflicts and motivations for
the characters if the technology was not abused. This is a hypothetical alternate plot:
The movie might concentrate more on the ethical issues and beneficial uses of SQUID technology in a
society where it is used properly and regulated. The story might examine how virtual reality affects
recollections, social interactions, and individual experiences. The following are salient features of the
alternate narrative:
Usage in Law and Ethics: The SQUID technology is presented as a ground-breaking instrument for healing,
improving empathy, and offering a distinct viewpoint on many life events. It turns into a regulated sector
with tight ethical requirements that is used for both entertainment and educational objectives.
Positive Effect on Society: Using the SQUID, virtual reality experiences help people comprehend and
empathise with one another. The movie might show how individuals use this technology to put themselves in
each other's shoes and build a more empathetic and cohesive community.
Memory Exploration: In contrast to the dark and violent themes of the first film, the story may centre on
characters using the SQUID to recall happy and sentimental memories. Self-discovery and personal
improvement may result from this investigation.
Technological developments: The SQUID technology can be a catalyst for good technological developments
when used responsibly and under ethical supervision. It might have an impact on a number of fields,
including psychology, entertainment, and medicine, without being tarnished by illegal activity.
Legal Conundrums: The movie may present legal conundrums pertaining to ownership of recorded
memories, permission, and privacy. Characters balancing the advantages and potential disadvantages of this
cutting-edge technology may make legal and ethical discussions a major plot point.
Character interactions: A more positive emphasis on personal development, understanding one another, and
the benefits of shared experiences could be placed on character interactions in place of a gloomy and
dystopian setting.
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Innovation and Progress: By highlighting the beneficial social shifts brought about by the responsible
application of SQUID technology, the movie may demonstrate how innovation and progress may create a
more peaceful society.

ISSUES RAISED BY THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

4. What are the various issues raised by the use of technology?

 Moral

 Ethical

 Social

 Economic

 Political

Moral Concerns:

Voyeurism and Exploitation Moral concerns concerning the exploitation of people for voyeuristic and
entertainment purposes are brought up by the illicit usage of the SQUID gadget to record and sell violent and
illicit encounters.

Moral Decay: The movie looks at how people's willingness to participate in or consume violent and illegal
events is a result of society becoming morally weakened due to the availability of such technology.

Ethical Concerns:

Privacy and Consent: Unauthorised personal experience recording without consent gives rise to ethical
privacy concerns. The way these recordings are used for different things, including blackmail, shows how
unethical the society in the movie is.

Manipulation of Memories: As characters utilise the SQUID to change or create experiences for themselves,
the movie poses moral problems regarding the manipulation of memories.

Social Issues:

Social Desensitisation: People become desensitised to severe events, which affects society norms and values.
This is a result of the widespread usage of the SQUID for violent and explicit content.

Class Disparities: SQUID technology's accessibility and misuse lead to differences in social classes, with the
wealthy having power over the technology and others suffering from its detrimental effects.

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Economic Concerns:

Illegal SQUID Recording activity: The movie illustrates the financial ramifications of this illicit activity. The
flourishing black market fuels crime and undermines the stability of the economy in the society portrayed.

Effect on Industries: The ethical and lawful usage of SQUID may have favourable economic effects on
sectors like entertainment. However, the illegal use showcased in the film has detrimental effects on the
economy.

Political Concerns:

Corruption in Law Enforcement: Political concerns associated with law enforcement corruption are brought
to light by corrupt police officers' abuse of the SQUID. Technology becomes a tool for the political system's
criminal operations, repression of dissent, and maintenance of power.

popular Unrest: Political tensions are raised by the possible disclosure of corruption and power abuse
through SQUID recordings, which sparks popular unrest. The movie makes the implication that immoral
behaviour and technology abuse pose a threat to political stability.

5. What could be the legal implications of the movie if it had been a reality?

 Many legal ramifications would probably emerge if the events portrayed in "Strange Days" actually
happened because of how the SQUID technology was misused and how it affected people's lives,
society, and the judicial system. Among the possible legal ramifications are:
 People may file a lawsuit if their private experiences are secretly recorded and shared without their
permission. Significant privacy issues would be raised by this, and litigation against people in charge of
the unauthorised use of SQUID technology might result.
 Those who produced, distributed, or sold illicit SQUID recordings may be prosecuted criminally.
Charges may include invasion of privacy or offences connected to the crimes shown in the recordings,
depending on what is recorded.
 Intellectual property rights may be violated by the unauthorised distribution and sale of SQUID
recordings. video creators could contend that their experiences were illegally captured on camera and
shared, which could result in legal battles over who owns the rights to the recorded video.
 The government may introduce or amend regulations to restrict the use of SQUID technology in
response to the widespread abuse of it. To guarantee moral norms, secure appropriate consent, and
punish illicit actions with technology, legislation may be proposed.
 The movie emphasises the corruption that exists in police enforcement. This would probably result in
inquiries, investigations, and lawsuits against dishonest policemen in the real world.
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 Those who were harmed by the improper use of SQUID technology may file tort claims against the
offending parties. This could involve allegations of psychological anguish, slander, or other harm
brought on by the dissemination of inaccurate or harmful recordings.
 It is possible to violate civil rights or commit discrimination with SQUID technology. People who
experience unfair targeting because to their gender, race, or other protected characteristics may be able to
seek legal redress for the harm that the improper use of the technology has caused.
 The extensive application of SQUID technology presents cybersecurity challenges. Legal ramifications
can include looking into the security protocol breach, gaining unauthorised access to personal
information, and possibly bringing lawsuits against the people who compromised the equipment.

AVAILABLE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

 Do we have a legal framework (nationally/internationally) to deal with the situation depicted in the
movie?

National legal framework:

1. Privacy Laws: Sections 43A and 72A of the Information Technology Act of 2000 protect people's
right to privacy. These regulatory requirements impose duties on businesses to guarantee the secure
processing of people's data and create protections for sensitive personal information. The necessity of
protecting personal information is emphasised, highlighting the significance of privacy in the digital
age.

2. Laws pertaining to crime and cybersecurity: Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, which forbids
the unapproved recording and dissemination of personal experiences, makes voyeurism illegal.
Sections 43, 66, and 70 of the Information Technology Act address cybersecurity issues
concurrently, focusing on hacking, unauthorised access, and computer system protection. When
security protocols are broken or unapproved access is granted to recorded content, legal action is
taken.

3. Protections for Human Rights and Torts: The Indian Constitution's Article 21 declares the right to
privacy to be a basic human right, making any infringement of it subject to constitutional scrutiny.
Furthermore, persons possess a legal remedy for invasion of privacy under common law rules, which
are regarded as torts. This legal remedy strengthens the penalties for violating privacy rights by
enabling people to seek damages for the unapproved recording and dissemination of their intimate
experiences.

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4. Data fiduciaries are required by Section 8(5) of the DPDP Act to take reasonable security
precautions, although the statute is vague about what exactly qualifies as "reasonable security
measures."

International Framework
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR):
The right to privacy is widely acknowledged, as evidenced by the UDHR's Article 12 and the
ICCPR's Article 17. Both proclamations stress the need to preserve people's privacy from arbitrary
intervention, and they expand this protection to include family, residence, and private
correspondence. The significance of privacy as a fundamental human right is affirmed by these
international regulations, which set up a fundamental principle that cuts beyond state boundaries.

WIPO Copyright Treaty and the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime:

The Budapest Convention makes unauthorised access, eavesdropping, and data meddling illegal in an
effort to combat the mounting problems posed by cybercrimes. It acts as a global framework to
prevent illegal access to and tampering with digital data.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the European Convention on Human Rights
(ECHR):
The right to respect for one's private and family life is protected from unjustified interference under
Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This clause creates an essential barrier
against interference in private and family lives. Additionally, Article 16 of the CRC affirms
children's right to privacy and places a strong emphasis on shielding them from unauthorised
intervention. When taken as a whole, these international agreements support a thorough framework
that places a high priority on the protection of private rights everywhere.