COvid-19 response

S.T.O.P. strategically repositioned our work to focus 50% of our time on analyzing the impact of COVID-19 surveillance. We became a global leader in opposing new, discriminatory forms of hygiene theater, such as contact tracing apps, thermal imaging scanners, and vaccine passports. Read the full report. 

litigate

In 2020, S.T.O.P. served survivors of surveillance abuse through impact litigation and direct legal services. Among various cases against the NYPD, in November 2020 we forced the Department to end its biased “hijab ban” policy, which required arrestees to remove their religious head coverings for mugshots and fueled the collection of facial recognition data. Read the full report. 

legislate

Beyond pandemic privacy bills, S.T.O.P. expanded our grassroots base and engaged thousands in the privacy fight – many for the first time, in the wake of the police response to nationwide protests against systemic racism. We led a coalition of more than 100 organizations to enact the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, the first New York surveillance reform law in a generation. Read the full report.

policy & REsearch educatioN

Our research white papers analyze systems of surveillance technology, identify pressing and overlooked problems, and present best practices or recommendations for moving forward. We published dozens of research papers and posts on topics ranging from warrantless cellphones seizures to congestion pricing. Read the full report.

MEDIA

In 2020, S.T.O.P. and our work appeared in nearly every major English-language outlet on the planet. We authored more than 40 op-eds in total, bringing much-needed attention to ignored issues such as keyword search warrants, facial recognition, and police purchasing of personal data. Read the full report.