38 Civil Rights Groups Call On NY To ‘Ban Big Brother’ Surveillance
(New York, NY, 5/23/2023) – Today, 38 civil rights groups, led by the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, called on New York State to pass an anti-surveillance bill package titled: “Banning Big Brother: New York’s Surveillance Sanctuary State Blueprint.” The ten-bill package includes first-in-the-nation bans on geofence warrants and fake police social media profiles. The campaign, which launched in January, has grown rapidly in recent weeks to include leading racial justice, civil rights, and privacy organizations from across the state and around the country. Today, S.T.O.P. visited the New York State Capitol to discuss the Banning Big Brother legislative package with New York State Senate and Assembly offices.
“At a moment when some of New York’s leaders are excited to play big brother, we’re here fighting for the public safety tools that actually work,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Surveillance tech is wasting millions, putting New Yorkers in harm's way, and shredding our Constitution. Our leaders have been tricked by tech companies for too long, spending our tax dollars on tech that continues to fail the public. It’s long past time for New York to draw a line, blocking systems that are proven to harm our communities and amplify bias.”
“Across New York, police departments are using invasive technology to spin a web of surveillance that can reach virtually everywhere,” said David Moss, Legal Fellow at the Legal Defense Fund. “Too often, Black and Brown New Yorkers are the ones who bear the brunt of this surveillance – whether it’s schoolchildren connecting with friends on social media, or protesters taking to the streets to demand equality. These bills are absolutely necessary to protect our privacy, promote racial equity, and ensure that law enforcement does not circumvent our constitutionally protected rights.”
“New York elected officials have an opportunity to stop the continued wasting of tax dollars on ineffective and privacy exploiting technology,” said The Legal Aid Society’s Digital Forensics Supervising Attorney Jerome D. Greco. “New Yorkers should not be subjected to reverse location searches, facial recognition, and cell site simulators, among other invasive tools. Seize the moment, lead the country by example, and pass this package of bills. Failing to do so will compound the harm already done and allow for further technological abuses.”
“Mass surveillance wastes money, doesn’t improve public safety, and is often weaponized against low-income communities of color,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “I was proud to join the ‘Banning Big Brother’ legislative package by introducing the Personal Privacy Protection Law Modernization Act with Harvey Epstein. Our legislation limits law enforcement’s ability to obtain New Yorkers’ personal information from city and state entities without a warrant. New Yorkers should never have to make a choice between interacting with government agencies and maintaining their privacy.”
"New York lawmakers have an opportunity to safeguard the privacy of New Yorkers and protect minority communities by passing the Banning Big Brother legislative package," said Sue Udry, Executive Director of Defending Rights & Dissent. "New York is wasting millions on surveillance technology that does not make us safer, but instead invades our personal lives and undermines our democracy. We urge lawmakers to support every bill in the Banning Big Brother package, and show the nation how to stand up for the Constitution."
“NAN is proud to support the “Banning Big Brother” initiative and its stance against the unchecked use of facial recognition technology,” said National Action Network Crisis Director and NYS Field Director Derek Perkinson. “Facial recognition technology poses serious threats to privacy, civil liberties, civil rights, and human rights. It has been shown to disproportionately impact marginalized communities and perpetuate systemic biases. By advocating for the prohibition of this invasive technology, we are taking a crucial step towards protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals. Banning Big Brother recognizes the urgent need for legislation that safeguards our fundamental freedoms and ensures accountability in surveillance practices. Facial recognition technology has the potential to be misused, leading to wrongful identification, surveillance overreach, and chilling effects on free expression. We must prioritize the protection of privacy and establish robust regulations that prevent the abuse of this technology. We call upon lawmakers, policymakers, and the public to support the “Banning Big Brother” initiative and join the movement towards a more privacy-respecting society. It is time to enact comprehensive legislation that establishes clear guidelines, restrictions, and oversight mechanisms to prevent the unfettered deployment of facial recognition technology. By doing so, we can strike a balance between public safety and the preservation of our civil liberties.”
In January, S.T.O.P. hosted a press conference joined by elected officials, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Legal Aid Society, Amnesty International USA, and other civil rights groups at the New York State Capitol to announce the launch of legislative package. Organizers and volunteers also discussed the package with New York State Senate and Assembly offices throughout the day.
S.T.O.P. is a lead advocate for the Reverse Location and Reverse Keyword Search Prohibition Act, which would prevent large-scale location tracking by prohibiting courts from issuing reverse location and reverse keyword search warrants and law enforcement agencies from seeking them.
S.T.O.P. is also a lead advocate for the enactment of the Stop Online Police Fake Accounts and Keep Everyone Safe Act, which prohibits police from creating fake social media accounts and coercing people to provide social media passwords.
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.
