S.T.O.P. Condemns Mayor Adams’ Mask Removal Proposal

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

For Immediate Release

S.T.O.P. Condemns Mayor Adams’ Mask Removal Proposal

(NEW YORK, NY, 3/9/2023) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns New York City Mayor Eric Adams for proposing stores ban patrons who refuse to remove masks. The NYPD and Mayor Adams ignored masks’ lifesaving public health benefits to encourage expanded use of biased facial recognition. The guidance comes as cases of the flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses rise in New York City.

SEE: NPR - NYC Mayor Eric Adams is telling stores to have customers remove their face masks
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/07/1161623700/nyc-stores-masking-eric-adams-robberies-shoplifting-bodegas

Silive - As flu, coronavirus, RSV cases rise in NYC, officials encourage use of face masks in public schools

https://www.silive.com/education/2022/12/as-flu-coronavirus-rsv-cases-rise-in-nyc-officials-encourage-use-of-face-masks-in-public-schools.html

“Now, big brother isn’t just watching, he’s putting you at risk of Covid,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “This isn’t just a terrible way to stop crime, it’s a great way to get New Yorkers Sick. We’ve always known that bad public safety policies endanger the public, but the threat isn’t usually this blatant. Banning masked patients won’t just spread Covid, flu, and other illnesses, it will make stores inaccessible to immunocompromised individuals. And promoting facial recognition will only continue to put BIPOC New Yorkers at risk of false arrest.”

In January, the civil rights group gathered with allies in Albany to launch Banning Big Brother: New York’s Surveillance Sanctuary State Blueprint, a New York State anti-surveillance legislative campaign. The bill package includes a state-wide ban on use of biometric data, including data used by facial recognition systems. In 2021, S.T.O.P. condemned NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison for blaming decreased arrest rates on New Yorkers wearing face masks that interfere with facial recognition.

SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P., Civil Rights Groups, & Lawmakers Launch NY Campaign To ‘Ban Big Brother’ Surveillance
https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/1/10/stop-civil-rights-groups-amp-lawmakers-launch-ny-campaign-to-ban-big-brother-surveillance

Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD For Blaming Arrest Rate Drop On Masks And Facial Recognition
https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/2/4/348esv9tly88k2tij1jmu22hxyqc8q

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 --

communications staffMarch 9, 2023