S.T.O.P. Warns Hochul Mask Ban Jeopardizes Public Health, Civil Rights

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For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Warns Hochul Mask Ban Jeopardizes Public Health, Civil Rights (New York, NY 6/18/24) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, warned that Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed ban on masks and other face coverings in the New York City subways puts public safety theater ahead of public health and civil rights, leaving immunocompromised New Yorkers at risk. The Governor’s vague promises for health, cultural, and religious carve outs would make any ban impossible to enforce. The measure is particularly alarming given reports that it's aimed at chilling political protest. The civil rights group urged the Governor to abandon the potential ban and any other efforts to promote mass tracking of transit riders. SEE: AP – Gov. Hochul considering a face mask ban on New York City subways, citing antisemitic acts https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-subway-mask-ban-protest-68a7ae3eb453a9c5197534b5f4bdc893 “Hochul must not harm New Yorkers’ public health for a headline,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Banning masks will create a public safety nightmare for immunocompromised New Yorkers. Now, can cops magically know who is and isn’t immunocompromised? Will cancer patients and transplant recipients need to carry around medical records just to keep on their mask? Governor Hochul has already proven she doesn’t care about funding the subways, and now we’ll see if she ignores riders’ rights and health too. New York State’s recently passed budget included a law banning the MTA from using facial recognition for fare enforcement, a provision that S.T.O.P. celebrated as a major win for its Ban The Scan coalition. The civil rights organization renewed the coalition’s call for a full ban on facial recognition in policing, housing, and public accommodations. SEE: Gothamist - MTA banned from using facial recognition to enforce fare evasion https://gothamist.com/news/mta-banned-from-using-facial-recognition-to-enforce-fare-evasion Press Release - S.T.O.P. Welcomes MTA Facial Recognition Ban For Fare Enforcement https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2024/4/29/stop-welcomes-mta-facial-recognition-ban-for-fare-enforcement In March, S.T.O.P. condemned Governor Hochul’s plan to deploy National Guard soldiers and New York State Police officers to check bags and patrol platforms on the New York City subway, describing the effort as a misguided attempt to militarize the MTA. In 2021, the civil rights group condemned then NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison for blaming a drop in the arrest rate on  New Yorkers wearing face masks that interfere with facial recognition. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns Hochul’s National Guard Subway Plan As ‘Abbott-like Stunt To Militarize The MTA’ https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2024/3/6/stop-condemns-hochuls-national-guard-subway-plan-as-abbott-like-stunt-to-militarize-the-mta Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD For Blaming Arrest Rate Drop On Masks And Facial Recognition https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/2/4/348esv9tly88k2tij1jmu22hxyqc8q --END-- CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved.