NYC Mayor Signs NYPD Surveillance Bill

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Welcomes Mayor de Blasio’s Signing of POST Act The landmark law requires the NYPD to disclose all surveillance systems and undergo annual privacy audit.   [NEW YORK, NY, 07/15/2020] -- Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, welcomes New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signing of the Public Oversight Of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act. The civil rights group says that passing the POST Act will allow lawmakers and the public to understand what surveillance tools the NYPD uses, including tools used to track protesters and religious communities.   SEE: Video - POST Act signing Ceremony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m176gpZMUI POST Act Overview Website https://www.postact.org/   N.Y. Times - Council Forces N.Y.P.D. to Disclose Use of Drones and Other Spy Tech https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/nyregion/nypd-police-surveillance-technology-vote.html N.Y. Daily News A long overdue curb on NYPD spying https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-a-long-overdue-curb-on-nypd-spying-20200618-cnxvkmmrwjfvlclhteut7b365y-story.html   “The POST Act is a crucial first step in dismantling the mass surveillance in New York City,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Without the POST Act, New Yorkers had no idea what tools our city was using to spy on our families and neighbors, and if you can’t see a threat, you can’t fight it. Mass surveillance fuels police stops and police violence. This law is proof of the power of public protests to dismantle systems of police violence.” The POST Act was passed by the City Council on June 18th, by a vote of 44-6. Even prior to the vote, Mayor de Blasio had promised to sign the legislation. The NYPD must publish the initial reports required by the POST Act by January 11th, 2020.   NY1 - De Blasio Backs City Council Bill To Uncover NYPD Surveillance Technology https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/06/17/nypd-must-reveal-surveillance-methods-under-city-council-post-act-   Release - Civil Rights Groups Welcome NYC Council Passage of POST Act https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2020/6/19/civil-rights-groups-welcome-nyc-council-passage-of-post-act-the-landmark-bill-requires-the-nypd-to-disclose-all-surveillance-systems-and-undergo-annual-privacy-audit   The civil rights group also renewed its call on Albany to pass the “Privacy N.Y.” slate of anti-spying reforms. These measures include state-wide bans on facial recognition, police drones, geolocation dragnets, and other invasive tools.   SEE: Privacy NY Legislative Slate https://www.stopspying.org/privacy-ny   Cahn continued “The POST Act will tell New Yorkers more about how we’re being tracked, but there are some spy tools that we already know should be banned. Albany should follow City Hall’s lead and begin to outlaw facial recognition, drones, and other abusive technologies. The longer we wait, the more New Yorkers will fall into the surveillance-to-prison pipeline” 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 –   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.