S.T.O.P. Releases Report On NYPD Violations Of Surveillance Law

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Releases Report On NYPD Violations Of Surveillance Law Details Department’s failure to disclose required contracts, calls on NYC lawmakers to intervene. (New York, NY, 10/7/2021) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, released Above The Law, detailing the NYPD’s repeated failures to comply with New York City’s Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act. Enacted in 2020, the POST Act is the first New York City surveillance law since 9/11. The report found that other police departments routinely comply with surveillance laws that are far more stringent than what is imposed by the POST Act. SEE: Report - Above The Law? https://www.stopspying.org/above-the-law NYPD - Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act Impact and Use Policies https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/about-nypd/public-comment.page “The NYPD’s noncompliance with the POST Act shows just how far it is willing to go to evade community accountability,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Research Director Eleni Manis. “Even now that it’s bound by law to report its surveillance tools publicly, the NYPD has refused to disclose basic facts like its vendors’ names. We call on the department to stop its illegal secrecy and comply with the POST Act – it’s that simple.” “When the police break the law, it’s a scandal,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “In passing the POST Act, our lawmakers made clear that the NYPD cannot hide its surveillance anymore. The NYPD fought us at the City Council, and they lost. But now, the same officers who swore to uphold the law are violating it. The NYPD’s POST Act reports gave us a few important insights, but most aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Not only do we need to strengthen the POST Act, we need to ensure the NYPD follows the law as it’s written.” Key Findings Include: NYPD refused to disclose surveillance vendors and tools; NYPD largely ignored bias of surveillance tools, including facial recognition; NYPD failed to provide specific retention periods for surveillance tools; NYPD hid the name of agencies that can access NYPD surveillance data; and The New York City Council has failed to ensure compliance with the POST Act. The report comes after S.T.O.P. and the Legal Aid Society (LAS) recently condemned the NYPD’s purchase of more than $277 million in secret surveillance equipment that had previously been hidden from the public. Earlier this year, S.T.O.P. released a report detailing the growth and effectiveness of local surveillance oversight laws around the country. The civil rights organization also held a press conference with advocates and elected officials condemning NYPD’s failure to comply with the POST Act. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P., Legal Aid Society Reveal Secret NYPD Surveillance Contracts Now Exceed $277 Million https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/9/14/stop-legal-aid-society-reveal-secret-nypd-surveillance-contracts-now-exceed-277-million Report - New CCOPS On The Beat https://www.stopspying.org/ccops The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. 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.