S.T.O.P. Concerned By NYPD ‘Public Messaging’ Drones

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Concerned By NYPD ‘Public Messaging’ Drones (New York, NY 7/17/23) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, raised concerns over the NYPD’s pilot of “public messaging” drones to broadcast audio alerts about extreme weather and other emergencies. The test program comes a week after the City Council held a scathing hearing over Mayor Adams’ response to the air quality emergency during the Canadian wildfires last month. The civil rights group noted that the plan appeared to violate the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, a landmark bill that requires NYPD provide public notice and comment before deploying new surveillance systems. SEE: AMNY - NYPD testing drones for public safety messaging during weather emergencies https://www.amny.com/police-fire/nypd-testing-drones-for-public-safety-messaging-during-weather-emergencies/ Gothamist - NYC Council launches investigation into city’s air quality response https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-council-launches-investigation-into-city-air-quality-response “This plan just isn’t going to fly,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “The city already has countless ways of reaching New Yorkers, and it would take thousands of drones to reach the whole city. The drones are a terrible way to alert New Yorkers, but they are a great way to creep us out. More alarmingly, the NYPD is once again violating the landmark POST Act. This is a transparent PR stunt, coming after last week’s City Council condemnation of the mayor’s mismanagement of the Canadian wildfire smoke. No gadget is going to be a substitute for effective city management and communication practices.” In April, S.T.O.P. condemned Mayor Eric Adam’s and NYPD Commissioner Sewell’s launch of “knockoff Robocop” police drones and other technologies without public notice, also in violation of the POST Act. 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.  In March, 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. Condemns NYPD’s ‘Knockoff Robocop’ Police Drones https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/4/11/stop-condemns-nypds-knockoff-robocop-police-drones 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 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.