When our government breaks the law, S.T.O.P. is here to hold it accountable. One of the most important protections we have is the Freedom of Information Law, which gives every New Yorker the right to demand information from local government agencies, a right that these agencies too often ignore.
Last spring, the technology watchdog Upturn demanded NYPD records on mobile device forensic tools, powerful devices that can decrypt and download all the information on New Yorkersâ cell phones. The NYPD arbitrarily denied the request.
At the same time, S.T.O.P. demanded documents detailing the MTAâs use of facial recognition in the Times Square subway station. The MTA didnât even bother to reply. We think that New Yorkers deserve better, which is why we and our co-counsel sued boththe NYPD and the MTA!
The NYPD and MTA collect huge amounts of information on New Yorkers, but they refuse to give the public the data thatwe are entitled to. Weâre suing because we believe that both of these document requests will provide crucial information about invasive surveillance tools. But weâre also suing to prove these agencies canât break the law and get away with it.
