S.T.O.P., Legal Aid Society Condemn $159 Million in Secret NYPD Surveillance Contracts, Release Public Copies

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P., Legal Aid Society Condemn $159 Million in Secret NYPD Surveillance Contracts, Release Public Copies (New York, NY, 8/10/2021) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, and the Legal Aid Society (LAS) condemned the NYPD’s purchase of more than $159 million in secret surveillance equipment that had previously been hidden from the public. The documents, which date back up to 10 years, show millions in purchases of facial recognition software, cellphone tracking tools, and predictive policing technology. SEE: Contract Database https://www.stopspying.org/nypd-special-expenses “For years, the NYPD has hidden its surveillance slush fund from the public, not to protect us, but to protect its bottom line,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “These technologies are expensive, invasive, and just don’t work. But the NYPD isn’t just wasting millions on unproven technologies, it’s putting Black and Brown communities at risk. High tech errors are often just the first step to false arrest, wrongful imprisonment, and being torn away from your family because of a faulty algorithm.” “The NYPD should not be permitted to hide millions of dollars in spending. These contracts lead to real world consequences in court rooms and police interactions across New York City,” said Legal Aid Society Digital Forensics Supervising Attorney Jerome D. Greco. “The secrecy surrounding these records is part of the continued attempts to protect the NYPD from scrutiny for its targeting of BIPOC communities with invasive, and often faulty, surveillance technologies.” The contracts were previously hidden under the Special Expenses program, a controversial secrecy agreement that was terminated last year in response to passage of the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act. STOP and LAS demanded the record from the Comptroller’s office over the past year, threatening litigation if they were withheld. SEE: New York Daily News - Comptroller Stringer tells NYPD surveillance technology expenses can’t be kept secret https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-nypd-budget-classified-stringer-20200731-55pwpwz4qzac7hyptmzlre5qyu-story.html S.T.O.P. – POST Act Overview Page https://www.stopspying.org/post-act Press Release - NYC Council Members, S.T.O.P. Release Joint Statement Condemning NYPD Noncompliance with POST Act https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/2/25/joint-release 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. The Legal Aid Society exists for one simple yet powerful reason: to ensure that New Yorkers are not denied their right to equal justice because of poverty. For 145 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long. Every day, in every borough, The Legal Aid Society changes the lives of our clients and helps improve our communities.   -- 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.