S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD’s Times Sq. Drone

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For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD’s Times Sq. Drone (New York, NY 9/22/23) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemned Mayor Eric Adam’s announcement that a police drone will soon patrol the Times Square subway station. Designed by Knightscope, the drone is equipped with cameras able to send real-time footage to NYPD. The civil rights group warned the footage may be fed into existing facial recognition systems. SEE: ABC 7 NY - Robot to help patrol Times Square subway station https://abc7ny.com/nypd-subway-patrol-robot-times-square-nyc-eric-adams-secuirty-in-station/13814245/ “This may be the dumbest drone yet,” Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “There is absolutely no benefit to installing a roving camera in one of the most heavily surveilled places on the planet. We've already blanketed Times Sq. with cameras, and it's absurd to think another drone will help. Despite the Mayor's promises, the images from this system can easily be fed into the NYPD's existing facial recognition system, compounding the risk these biased algorithms pose to BIPOC New Yorkers. I just wish that the Mayor would start focus on actually protecting public safety instead of wasting more time and money on surveillance gimmicks.” In April, the civil rights group condemned Mayor Eric Adam’s and NYPD Commissioner Sewell’s launch of other “knockoff Robocop” police drones technologies, including Knightscope K5 surveillance drones, Boston Robotics’ Digidog, and Starchase GPS tracking devices. 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 ABC 7 NY - Mayor Adams and NYPD roll out new crime-fighting initiative in Times Square https://abc7ny.com/nypd-robocop-digidog-new-york-city-crime/13112974/ 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.