S.T.O.P. Welcomes NY Schools’ Face Rec Ban, Calls For City-Wide Legislation

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For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Welcomes NY Schools’ Face Rec Ban, Calls For City-Wide Legislation (New York, NY 9/27/2023) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, welcomes the New York State Education Department’s state-wide ban on facial recognition in k-12 schools, but it renewed pressure on New York City lawmakers to ban the technology in public accommodations and housing. The decision upholds a nearly three-year-old moratorium on facial recognition in schools, which was the first in the nation. The civil rights group warned that without additional legislation, students who are protected from facial recognition in the classroom could face the same technology the moment they set foot off school grounds. SEE: New York State Education Department - State Education Department Issues Determination on Biometric Identifying Technology in Schools https://www.nysed.gov/news/2023/state-education-department-issues-determination-biometric-identifying-technology-schools Press Release - S.T.O.P. Commends Cuomo For Signing School Facial Recognition Ban https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2020/12/22/stop-commends-cuomo-for-signing-school-facial-recognition-ban “This is a major victory in the fight against facial recognition,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “We commend the Commissioner for agreeing that facial recognition has no place in our schools. This technology is biased, invasive, and ripe for abuse. Facial recognition doesn’t need to be regulated, it needs to be stopped completely. We just hope that lawmakers expand these crucial civil rights protections. Students that are safe from facial recognition at school today still are tracked by the technology at stores, arenas, and even by landlords. It’s long past time that we ensure that every New Yorker is protected from this discriminatory technology. That’s why we’re renewing calls on lawmakers to pass bans on facial recognition, including two proposals currently before the city council to ban facial recognition in public accommodations and when used by landlords.” SEE: Gotham Gazette - Expand the School Ban, End the Use of Facial Recognition in New York https://www.gothamgazette.com/130-opinion/10102-expand-school-ban-end-use-of-facial-recognition-technology-new-york Yesterday, S.T.O.P. joined over 30 civil rights groups in submitting a memo of support demanding the New York City Council pass two pending bills banning facial recognition and other biometric technologies in residential buildings and public accommodations, such as stores and arenas. In May, S.T.O.P. joined elected officials and fellow civil rights groups in rallying against facial recognition and other biometric surveillance in New York City Hall Park ahead of a City Council hearing on the proposed bans. SEE: Press Release - 32 Civil Rights Groups Demand NYC Council Ban Facial Recognition https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/9/26/32-civil-rights-groups-demand-nyc-council-ban-facial-recognition Press Release - Electeds, Advocates Rally Against Facial Recognition Ahead Of City Council Hearing On Bans https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/5/3/electeds-advocates-rally-against-facial-recognition-ahead-of-city-council-hearing-on-bans 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.