For Immediate Release
S.T.O.P. Condemns Hochul’s $700k Social Media Surveillance ‘Gimmick’
(New York, NY 11/16/23) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s expansion of New York State Police social media surveillance as a “gimmick,” not a real public safety response. The governor claimed the money would combat rising hate crimes, directing the money to the New York State Intelligence Center’s Social Media Analysis Unit. The civil rights group warned that blanket social media surveillance has repeatedly failed the public and is ripe for abuse.
SEE: CBS New York - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul boosts counterterrorism efforts amid rise in antisemitism
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-boosts-counterterrorism-rise-in-antisemitism/
Governor Kathy Hochul - Following Surge in Hate and Bias Crimes, Governor Hochul Deploys All Available State Resources to Protect New Yorkers in At-Risk Communities and on College Campuses
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/following-surge-hate-and-bias-crimes-governor-hochul-deploys-all-available-state-resources
“As a Jewish man who has represented dozens of Muslim survivors of hate crimes, I know all too well how alarming the recent surge in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic threats have been, but these surveillance stunts are not the solution,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “For years we’ve been told that ever more invasive social media scraping will somehow magically keep us safe, predicting crimes before they happen. It’s failed. While it’s effectively impossible to monitor millions of New Yorkers’ social media accounts to predict true threats, this type of technology is ripe for abuse. This is a moment to invest in measures that can truly strengthen our communities and protect our neighbors from anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, not more surveillance gimmicks.”
SEE: Governor Kathy Hochul - B-roll, Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Following Increase in Hate and Bias Incidents, Governor Hochul Deploys Additional Staff to Joint Terrorism Task Force
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/b-roll-video-audio-photos-rush-transcript-following-increase-hate-and-bias-incidents-governor
Last month, S.T.O.P. condemned both the Queens District Attorney and the New York Police Department for renewing contracts with social media surveillance firms. The NYPD’s contract with Voyager Labs was revealed by S.T.O.P. via a FOIL request. The AI-based data surveillance firm supplies the agency with software that performs rapid analysis of large digital files obtained through social media providers. Cobweb Technologies, the controversial data surveillance company contracted by the Queens DA, as well as the Department of Homeland Security and US Navy, provides location data, social media content, and other data on millions of people.
SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns Queens DA, NYPD For Buying Social Media Data
https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/9/8/stop-condemns-queens-da-nypd-for-buying-social-media-data
The Guardian – NYPD spent millions to contract with firm banned by Meta for fake profiles
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/08/new-york-police-tracking-voyager-labs-meta-contract?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
The civil rights group is also a leading advocate of the “Stop Online Police Fake Accounts and Keep Everyone Safe” (STOP FAKES) Act in New York State. The first-of-its-kind legislation would ban police from leveraging fake social media accounts to surveil New Yorkers.
SEE: City & State New York - Opinion: New York must say no to social media surveillance
https://www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2023/06/opinion-new-york-must-say-no-social-media-surveillance/387335/
The New York State Senate - Senate Bill S9247
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S9247
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.
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CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn.
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