Legislation introduced today by New York City council members Dan Garodnick and Vanessa Gibson would finally compel the NYPD — one of the most technology-laden police forces in the country — to make public its rulebook for deploying its controversial surveillance arsenal.
The bill, named the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) act, would require the NYPD to detail how, when, and with what authority it uses technologies like Stingray devices, which can monitor and interfere with the cellular communications of an entire crowd at once. Specifically, the department would have to publicize the “rules, processes and guidelines issued by the department regulating access to or use of such surveillance technology as well as any prohibitions or restrictions on use, including whether the department obtains a court authorization for each use of a surveillance technology, and what specific type of court authorization is sought.”
The NYPD would also have to say how it protects the gathered surveillance data itself (for example, X-ray imagery, or individuals captured in a facial recognition scan), and whether or not this data is shared with other governmental organizations. A period of public comment would follow these disclosures.
In a press release, the New York Civil Liberties Union, which has been instrumental in fighting to reveal the mere fact that the NYPD possesses devices like the Stingray, hailed the bill:
Public awareness of how the NYPD conducts intrusive surveillance, especially the impacts on vulnerable New Yorkers, is critical to democracy. For too long the NYPD has been using technology that spies on cellphones, sees through buildings and follows your car under a shroud of secrecy, and the bill is a significant step out of the dark ages.
It’s unclear whether the bill would apply to products that have both powerful surveillance and non-surveillance functionality, a la Palantir, but the legislation’s definition of “surveillance technology” is sufficiently broad:
The term “surveillance technology” means equipment, software, or system capable of, or used or designed for, collecting, retaining, processing, or sharing audio, video, location, thermal, biometric, or similar information, that is operated by or at the direction of the department.
Though the bill might do little to curb the use of such technologies, it would at least give those on the sidewalk a better idea of how and when they’re being watched, if not why.
The NYPD did not immediately return a request for comment.
The PI’s already know about this stuff, but refuse to blow the whistle, cuz’, paychecks. None of these people care about Democracy or due process when they are in the drivers seat.
Hitler was also known to provide jobs, and built an economy that lasted, um….12 years or so. police and the associated snitch and spy industrialists are not known for long term thinking skills, but they are really good at getting their snouts in troughs by out-snouting everybody else.
https://researchorganizedgangstalking.wordpress.com/
research organized gang stalking. That is what this is, but now, turned n everyone instead of gangs and miscreants.
All true.
the STINGRAY SWEEP stuff will eventually be “carried over” to the PI’s who then work for the LAWFIRMS that represent predatory wallstreet firms who will use the tech to STEAL YOUR BUSINESS CALLS to rob your business.
far fetched? no. it will happen and probably already is. The only protection you will have is to use encrypted comm. If you are a business person, you will need it.
Thank you! Wrote my councilmember to encourage endorsement.
Sam, in your article’s penultimate paragraph, “to little” should be revised to read “do little.”
Just a small typo:
Though the bill might to little to -> Though the bill might do little to
peace.
One disturbing aspect of the Stingray is its ability to disrupt live reporting of police violence, since it can be used to disrupt cellphone usage. If it can be used to disrupt all forms of cellphone use and not simply the signal, then it could effectively prevent the documentation of police abuses or the identification of plants introducing violence into a peaceful demonstration.
It can also prevent calls in a medical emergency and for legal representation.
Don’t underestimate STINGRAY abilities.
Track, spy, access camera, pictures, videos, text, settings, compose, edit, delete and send text, drain battery.
In other words, create evidence on your cell.
i seriously doubt the dumb&dumbers that run the gov have thought out the generational effects of the SPYALL program. The perfect society where people are pitted against each other for survival resources as populations explode far beyond capacity. It’s INSANE.
Agency pricks inherit used military toys, trumps pentagon budget promises a lot.
Civilian Military Operations.
Through wall peering, back scatter x-ray vehicles and RF ,weapons are just some in the arsenal.
Claimed to be “non lethal” but do kill.
X-rays and microwaves are murdering civilians suspected of dissent in stealth.
DEW’S maim, torture and slow kill covertly.
Who cares about Stingrays when the DIGITAL phones are routed thru network equipment that are connected to computers with disk drives?
Monitoring is like playing a DVD with Google Voice.
I cannot help but think NYC and L.A. are on par with brutally intrusive and invasive devices, but I am happy to have you prove me wrong.
Bravo, NYC council members and ACLU.
Mr Biddle – if the response is not forthcoming “immediately” do you have a hope that they will respond eventually?