S.T.O.P. Condemns 200+ Arrests Of Queer New Yorkers At Penn Station, Renews Call To Ban Police Fake Social Media Accounts

The civil rights group condemned the arrests as “algorithmic McCarthyism."

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns 200+ Arrests Of Queer New Yorkers At Penn Station, Renews Call To Ban Police Fake Social Media Accounts (New York, NY 10/1/2025) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns the Amtrak Police Department’s arrest of over 200 queer New Yorkers since June at Penn Station, including at least 20 men taken into ICE custody. Reporting from The City shared that the federal police force used the digital, queer hookup platform Sniffies to identify a Penn Station restroom cruising spot. The civil rights group condemned the arrests as “algorithmic McCarthyism,” and renewed its call for New York State to ban police fake social media accounts. SEE: Out - The 'dark days' return: Over 200 arrested at NYC gay cruising site https://www.out.com/news/nyc-gay-sex-arrest-dark-days-return The City - Amtrak Police Arrests Surge at Penn Bathroom Cruising Spot https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/09/24/amtrak-police-cruising-ice-arrests-deportations-pride/ “The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on queer life in America,” said Surveillance Technology Project Oversight Communications Director Will Owen. “This is algorithmic McCarthyism, with federal law enforcement infiltrating queer social networks online. It’s never been clearer how dangerous it is to let police at all levels impersonate others on social media or other online platforms. At the state level, New York must pass the STOP FAKES Act to ban police from ever creating fake social media accounts to target queer New Yorkers or any other marginalized groups.” SEE: The Washington Blade - When Discr33t_T0P’s a discreet cop https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/03/22/opinion-american-law-enforcement-tricks/ S.T.O.P. is a leading advocate of the “Stop Online Police Fake Accounts and Keep Everyone Safe” (STOP FAKES) Act in New York State. The first-of-its-kind legislation would ban police from leveraging fake social media accounts to surveil New Yorkers. SEE: City & State New York - Opinion: New York must say no to social media surveillance https://www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2023/06/opinion-new-york-must-say-no-social-media-surveillance/387335/ The New York State Senate - Senate Bill S9247 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S9247 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 -- Copyright © 2025 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.