S.T.O.P. Condemns Launch Of NYC Vaccine App

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns Launch Of NYC Vaccine App   (New York, NY, 7/30/2021) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based civil rights group, condemns the launch of NYC COVID Safe, a COVID-19 vaccine app launched today by New York City. The app, which is available for iOS and Android devices, allows users to store photos of their government ID, vaccine history, and test results. Notably, the app does not verify the accuracy of the information users upload.   SEE: Apple Store – NYC COVID Safe https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nyc-covid-safe/id1565213506 NYC COVID Safe Terms of Use https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doitt/downloads/pdf/nyccovidsafe-app-terms-of-use.pdf   N.Y. Times – New York City and California to Require Vaccines or Tests for Workers https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/nyregion/covid-vaccine-ny-ca-mandatory.html “New York needs more vaccinations, not another app,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Mayor de Blasio is right to encourage city workers to get the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine, but wrong to roll-out yet another app. This app doesn’t provide any public health benefits, but it will exclude those without smartphones, non-native English speakers, and the visually impaired. This is no better than when users make copies of their vaccine records or save photos to their phone. It’s just a publicity stunt.”   The launch of NYC COVID Safe follows New York State’s controversial launch of Excelsior Pass in May. Unlike New York City’s app, Excelsior Pass required New Yorkers to confirm their vaccine status and test results with medical providers. This made the app unusable for those who received one or more vaccine doses out of state, as well as raising equity and privacy concerns.   Cahn continued, “we should know by now that these apps just don’t work. Rather than spending more money on this problematic tech, we should focus on building community trust in the vaccine. The money we spent on this software would have been far better used as a reward for those getting vaccinated.”   In June, the civil rights group revealed that New York State had agreed to pay IBM more than $17 million Excelsior Pass, nearly 10 times what New York Governor Andrew Cuomo previously claimed. The group also highlighted that it was able to forge an Excelsior Pass credential in just 11 minutes.   N.Y. Times – New York’s Vaccine Passport Could Cost Taxpayers $17 Million https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/09/nyregion/excelsior-pass-vaccine-passport.html   Daily Beast – I Forged New York’s Digital Vaccine Passport in 11 Minutes Flat https://www.thedailybeast.com/i-forged-new-yorks-digital-vaccine-passport-in-11-minutes-flat   Excelsior Pass Contract https://www.stopspying.org/excelsior-pass-contract 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.   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.