S.T.O.P. Welcomes NYC’s Proposed Limits On Residential Data Collection, Urges More Protections

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Welcomes NYC’s Proposed Limits on Residential Data Collection, Urges More Protections [NEW YORK, NY 10/17/2019] -- Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, welcomed the New York City Council’s proposed limits on landlord’s collection of tenants’ data, but it urged the Council to also adopt stronger protections. The bill, which was introduced by Council Member Mark Levine, would limit landlords’ ability to track tenants through keyless entry, smart metering, and biometric surveillance like facial recognition. SEE: Legislation seeks to protect the privacy of tenants going keyless https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/legislation-seeks-protect-privacy-tenants-going-keyless Bill text https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4196254&GUID=29A4B0E2-4C1F-472B-AE88-AE10B5313AC1&Options=ID|Text|&Search=   “We commend Council Member Levine for fighting for New Yorkers’ privacy,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “While we agree that New Yorkers must be protected from tracking in our own homes, we believe that we need a more comprehensive ban on data collection.  Additionally, we continue to call on Speaker Johnson and the entire City Council to address the unprecedented privacy threat from NYPD surveillance. How can we ask every landlord in the city to protect New Yorkers’ privacy when our own government fails to do so?”   The new privacy measure was introduced as Speaker Johnson faces growing pressure to support the leading NYPD privacy reform: The Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology “POST” Act. Although the POST Act was introduced 20 months ago and already has a majority city council members as cosponsors, it has yet to receive a hearing before the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.   Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act Overview Website https://www.stopspying.org/post-act Bill Text: https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3343878&GUID=996ABB2A-9F4C-4A32-B081-D6F24AB954A0 The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider hosted by the Urban Justice Center. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   - END – CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn;   Copyright © 2019 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.