The article barely hints at blackmail as a method of getting around those laws. Near the end, it says: >Did his company retain video of the Baltimore officials

The article barely hints at blackmail as a method of getting around those laws. Near the end, it says: >Did his company retain video of the Baltimore officials who could approve or thwart its return? To me, I read that and think they probably began surveillance much earlier than they let on. After collecting dirt on people who could stop it, then they approached them and got their cooperation. I could be wrong of course, but that's my 2 cents.