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NYPD's NYCHA Camera Integration Raises Surveillance Concerns

NYPD's real-time access to NYCHA cameras may aid quicker responses, but residents worry about potential immigration enforcement collaboration and lack of transparency.

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1 min read
In front of the picture, we see a white car on which "Police" is written. Behind that, there are...
In front of the picture, we see a white car on which "Police" is written. Behind that, there are many cars moving on the road. On either side of the road, we see grass and trees. This picture is clicked outside the city.

NYPD's NYCHA Camera Integration Raises Surveillance Concerns

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has integrated NYCHA cameras with the Domain Awareness System, raising concerns about increased surveillance and potential civil liberties violations. The city council held an emergency hearing to address these issues, with many questions left unanswered.

The NYPD has connected 68 CCTV cameras at one NYCHA development to its citywide surveillance software, Big Apple Connect. This integration may violate the city's Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act. The NYPD can now access these feeds in real-time, potentially enabling quicker responses to incidents.

However, this expanded surveillance has sparked concerns. The NYPD may share information with federal immigration enforcement when required by law, potentially impacting NYCHA residents. The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) did not inform residents that the free internet program was facilitating live police surveillance.

The city council held an emergency oversight hearing to discuss these issues. Despite the hearing, many councilmembers' questions about the specifics of the NYPD's use of Big Apple Connect and NYCHA CCTV cameras remained unanswered. By the end of 2023, the NYPD plans to connect 1,900 more cameras across 19 more NYCHA properties, and eventually 17,897 cameras across 119 NYCHA developments.

The NYPD's expanded use of NYCHA CCTV cameras through Big Apple Connect raises significant concerns about police surveillance and potential civil liberties violations. While real-time access to these cameras may aid in quicker responses to incidents, the lack of transparency and unanswered questions from the city council hearing highlight the need for further scrutiny and oversight.

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