For Immediate Release
Electeds, Advocates Rally Against Facial Recognition Before City Council Hearing
(New York, NY 6/10/24) – Today, elected officials and civil rights groups held a press conference and rally on the steps of New York City Hall to urge the New York City Council to ban facial recognition and other forms of biometric surveillance. The rally took place ahead of a City Council hearing with the Committee on Technology to discuss two bills, both part of the “Ban The Scan” legislative campaign, which would ban the use of facial recognition by landlords and public accommodations in New York City. Advocates urged City Council to not only pass the two bills but also go further by placing a full ban on the use of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance by police and government.
SEE: Photos and Videos of Press Conference and Rally
https://web.tresorit.com/l/ThySI#MWQAZ239EjIRur49zbhm6w
NYC Council – Int 0217-2024 New York City Ban on Public Accommodations Biometric Surveillance
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6557556&GUID=E67A1D7D-5245-4373-B5FF-1AD968E3383F&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=0217%5c
NYC Council – Int 0425-2024 New York City Ban on Residential Landlord Biometric Surveillance
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6558031&GUID=73676D60-2010-4A95-AB2F-A0B96A46C45E
“It’s outrageous that today there are no laws that outlaw this type of dystopian technology,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Let’s be clear, you cannot be against racial profiling unless you’re against facial profiling, because facial recognition is at its core a racist tool that harms New Yorkers every single day. We’re so proud to see the Council moving forward with legislation to outlaw these technologies both in housing and places of public accommodation.”
“More landlords are implementing technological solutions to enhance quality of life and security for residents, but when it comes to facial recognition and biometric identifier systems, there is a gap in the regulatory framework that can lead to negative impacts," said New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera. "From common user misidentification to the potential to increase the presence and accuracy of surveillance, concerns about the use of facial recognition technology and biometrics are backed by data, and City leadership must establish safeguards that protect rights and increase transparency. Alongside colleagues and advocates, I have introduced legislation to limit the use of facial recognition technology in residential buildings to ensure New Yorkers do not have their rights violated, and are not excluded or discriminated against.”
“Whether in their homes, patronizing local businesses, or accessing health care, New Yorkers deserve privacy and safety,” said Daniel Schwarz, Senior Privacy & Technology Strategist at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “Right now, law enforcement, private companies, and other government agencies use highly flawed, racially biased facial recognition technologies with free rein. New Yorkers don’t want to live in a world where biometric surveillance constantly watches, tracks, and monitors their every move — the City Council must take action and ban the use of this invasive technology.”
"The use of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance is invasive, undemocratic, and just plain creepy," said Shane Ferro, Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society's Digital Forensics Unit. "New Yorkers should not have to live in an Orwellian future, and the City Council should protect our civil rights by banning this technology from residences and businesses across the city."
"Given the threat of ongoing algorithmic discrimination to communities historically impacted by systemic bias, New York City officials must ban the use of facial recognition technology in public accommodations and residential buildings," said Jason Williamson, Executive Director at the Center on Race, Inequality, & the Law at NYU School of Law.
In May, S.T.O.P. and 20 other civil rights groups launched a state-level “Ban The Scan” campaign, introducing four bills to ban facial recognition by businesses, landlords, schools, and law enforcement in New York State. This came shortly after a provision in the state budget included a ban on MTA’s use of facial recognition for fare enforcement on the New York City Subway, which S.T.O.P. celebrated as a major win for the Ban The Scan campaign.
SEE: Ban The Scan campaign website
https://www.banthescan.org/
Sign-On Letter in Support of Facial Recognition Legislation
https://www.stopspying.org/sign-on-letters/2024/5/2/sign-on-letter-in-support-of-facial-recognition-legislation
Press Release - S.T.O.P. Welcomes MTA Facial Recognition Ban For Fare Enforcement
https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2024/4/29/stop-welcomes-mta-facial-recognition-ban-for-fare-enforcement
Last spring, S.T.O.P. joined elected officials and civil rights groups in rallying against facial recognition and other biometric surveillance in New York City Hall Park ahead of a City Council hearing with the Technology and Civil and Human Rights Committees on proposed bans.
SEE: 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
PIX11 - NYC officials say facial recognition needs to be banned in public areas
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/elected-officials-say-facial-recognition-needs-to-be-banned-in-public-areas/
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.
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CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn.
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