S.T.O.P. Condemns Hochul’s ‘Big Brother’ Subway Surveillance Plan

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For Immediate Release

S.T.O.P. Condemns Hochul’s ‘Big Brother’ Subway Surveillance Plan

(New York, NY, 9/20/2022) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to install two surveillance cameras in every subway car Today, Governor Hochul made the announcement at a maintenance facility in Queens, saying “if you think big brother is watching you on the subway, you’re absolutely right.” The civil rights group warned that the surveillance technology was little better than “security theater”, especially given that subway crime is down, not up this summer.

SEE: Video – Kathy Hochul Video Announcement
https://twitter.com/GovKathyHochul/status/1572227228137672704?s=20&t=JlBgwPu9bEK22IogqH2PUA

“New Yorkers want safety, not surveillance,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. "As the Governor admitted, subway crime is down this summer, not up. Big brother’s spying never prevented crime before, and it won’t start now. This tech has failed us too many times to count. In April, when the cameras were supposed to keep us safe, they couldn’t even capture the subway shooter’s image. This surveillance theater won’t just put New Yorkers at risk, it’s ripe for abuse by the NYPD. We deserve better than digital stop and risk. I’m deeply disappointed that Hochul put New York on an express train to authoritarianism.”

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.

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CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn; ".

PressAlbert cahnSeptember 20, 2022