New York City’s streets may see an increased police presence in the form of surveillance drones over the Labor Day weekend.
The NYPD has unveiled plans to deploy these unmanned devices to monitor large gatherings, including private backyard events, according to an Associated Press (AP) report.
The decision comes in the wake of mounting complaints about such gatherings.
Assistant NYPD Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, in a recent media briefing, explained, “If a caller states there’s a large crowd, a large party in a backyard, we’re going to be utilizing our assets to go up and go check on the party.”
While the police believe this is a progressive move in line with increasing drone use for security and public safety purposes, it hasn’t sat well with many.
The New York Civil Liberties Union’s privacy and technology strategist, Daniel Schwarz, expressed his concerns: “It’s a troubling announcement and it flies in the face of the POST Act.”
The POST Act, passed in 2020, mandates the NYPD to be transparent about its surveillance methods. Schwarz further commented on the drone surveillance, terming it as “a sci-fi inspired scenario.”
Interestingly, this surveillance plan was discussed in a security meeting centered on J’ouvert, an iconic Caribbean festival commemorating the end of slavery.
Daughtry clarified that drones would be used for both “non-priority and priority calls” that extend beyond just the festival’s vicinity.
NYC’s inclination toward drone technology isn’t sudden.
Data reveals that there have been 124 deployments of drones by the police for various public safety measures this year alone, a significant rise from a mere four times in 2022.
Mayor Eric Adams, previously serving as a police captain, envisions a broader application of drones in policing, AP notes.
Drawing inspiration from Israel’s effective drone use, which he observed during a recent visit, he mentioned his desire for the NYPD to harness the “endless” potential of the technology.
However, the accelerated adoption of drones in policing has alarmed privacy advocates.
AP cites Albert Fox Cahn, the head of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), who emphasized the lack of regulations, stating, “One of the biggest concerns with the rush to roll out new forms of aerial surveillance is how few protections we have against seeing these cameras aimed at our backyards or even our bedrooms.”
The mayor’s office, when reached for a statement, provided links to guidelines for private drone usage within NYC but remained silent on any policies pertaining to police drone surveillance.
According to a report from the American Civil Liberty Union, around 1,400 police units nationwide have integrated drones into their operations.
While federal regulations typically restrict drone usage to within the operator’s visual range, exemptions are often sought.
Cahn urged for greater transparency and said, “Clearly, flying a drone over a backyard barbecue is a step too far for many New Yorkers.”
He calls for clear boundaries to ensure that surveillance doesn’t exceed its limits.
