S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD’s ‘Knockoff Robocop’ Police Drones

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD’s ‘Knockoff Robocop’ Police Drones (New York, NY 4/11/23) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemned Mayor Eric Adam’s and NYPD Commissioner Sewell’s launch of “knockoff Robocop” police drones and other technologies. The statement followed the Mayor and Commissioner’s Times Square launch of several new policing technologies, including Knightscope K5 surveillance drones, Boston Robotics’ Digidog, and Starchase GPS tracking devices. Digidog drones previously drew widespread condemnation from across the city and from the New York City Council after video emerged of one drone being walked through a Manhattan public housing complex. StarChase devices allow police to shoot a GPS tracking device at vehicles and individuals, tracking them anywhere on the planet. SEE: NYC Mayor's Office - Mayor Eric Adams Makes Public Safety Announcement With NYPD Commissioner Sewell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O0nlu8spyE ABC7NY - Mayor Adams and NYPD roll out new crime-fighting initiative in Times Square https://abc7ny.com/nypd-robocop-digidog-new-york-city-crime/13112974/ Gothamist – NYPD Deploys "Creepy" New Robot Dog In Manhattan Public Housing Complex https://gothamist.com/news/nypd-deploys-alarming-robot-dog-manhattan-public-housing-complex   “The NYPD is turning bad science fiction into terrible policing,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “New York deserves real safety, not a knockoff robocop. Wasting public dollars to invade New Yorkers’ privacy is a dangerous police stunt. Rather than investing in evidence-based ways to protect community safety, Mayor Adams continues to fall for these high-tech schemes. How many more millions do we have to waste on biased, broken, and downright creepy technology before we realize it won’t work? We should be investing in actual human beings, not robots.” S.T.O.P. also noted that the announcement was being made without any public notice as required by the POST Act, potentially violating the landmark surveillance oversight ordinance. Last month, the organization commended findings from the Office of the Inspector General for  the NYPD, which found the NYPD failed to comply with 93% of the watchdog’s compliance recommendations. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Welcomes OIG Findings That NYPD Breaks Surveillance Law https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/3/30/stop-welcomes-oig-findings-that-nypd-breaks-surveillance-law In 2021, the civil rights group led opposition to the NYPD’s use of Digidog. Following enormous public pushback, the NYPD agreed to cease using the robot under then-mayor Bill de Blasio. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Renews Condemnation Of NYPD Robot Dog https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/4/14/stop-renews-condemnation-of-nypd-robot-dog 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 © 2021 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.