S.T.O.P. Warns New Infrared Congestion Pricing Cameras Ripe For NYPD Abuse

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For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Warns New Infrared Congestion Pricing Cameras Ripe For NYPD Abuse (New York, NY 3/1/2024) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, warns that the MTA’s new infrared congestion pricing cameras are ripe for NYPD abuse, repeating calls for MTA privacy protections. The civil rights group warned that the MTA should not be the long arm of the law, renewing calls for state officials to enact the OMNY Privacy Act and Modernize the PPPL Act, barring the MTA from sharing data with police without a warrant. SEE: Gothamist - MTA installs futuristic cameras in Manhattan to charge, track cars for congestion pricing https://gothamist.com/news/mta-congestion-pricing-infrared-cameras   New York State Senate – OMNY Privacy Act https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S6142 New York State Senate - Modernize the PPPL Act https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S4044 “Congestion pricing is vital for New York City, but it shouldn’t come at the price of our civil rights,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “For far too long, New Yorkers stood silently as the NYPD transformed nearly every government data set into a policing tool. But this risks transforming every toll gantry into a tracking device, making it impossible for New Yorkers to protest, get medical services, or attend religious services without being tracked. Already, the NYPD has wholesale access to MTA data about New Yorkers’ transit trips and tens of thousands of cameras watching where we walk.” SEE: The City - LISTEN: Do Congestion Pricing Cameras Breed ‘Ghost’ Cars? https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/08/09/congestion-pricing-traffic-cameras-ghost-cars-surveillance-faqnyc-podcast/ In August, S.T.O.P. condemned OMNY for a vulnerability that exposed riders’ location to stalkers and other bad actors. A report by 404 Media showed that OMNY’s “Check Trip History” could access a rider’s movements over the prior week using only their credit card number.  SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns MTA’s OMNY Stalking Vulnerability https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2023/8/31/stop-condemns-mtas-omny-stalking-vulnerability The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color. --END-- CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved.