Friend,
As we approach the holiday season, we’re taking time to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished together, and to say thank you. None of S.T.O.P.’s progress this year would have been possible without support, partnership, and trust from our communities.
With your help, S.T.O.P. expanded our legislative and advocacy work and jumpstarted new initiatives to rein in abusive surveillance. With the New York City Council, we helped secure major wins: the passage of introductions 480 and 168, closing loopholes in the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act that the NYPD used to conceal invasive surveillance practices, and intro 1020, requiring the NYPD’s Inspector General to be transparent when the NYPD is being uncooperative in investigations. We also drafted and negotiated intro 1235, a revolutionary bill being passed by the City Council this month requiring NYC agencies to be completely transparent about their Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests. At the state level, the New York State Assembly passed the FOIL Timeline Act, establishing strict deadlines for FOIL responses so government agencies can no longer hide behind endless delays. Although it was vetoed by Governor Hochul, we’re continuing to organize with Reinvent Albany to fight for true transparency.
This year alone, we filed 16 different FOIL requests, 25 FOIL appeals, and 4 FOIL lawsuits, plus a federal FOIA lawsuit on behalf of a client. We won our FOIL lawsuit against the MTA and have already begun receiving documents. Working alongside public school parents, we also uncovered troubling data tracking by the MTA, helping to show how students’ OMNY cards were being tracked across the city.
We brought one of the most important lawsuits in S.T.O.P.’s history, challenging the NYPD Domain Awareness System for violating New Yorkers’ First and Fourth Amendment rights. Beyond the courts, we published over 15 op-eds in major outlets, trained local activists, and released six research projects on issues ranging from state surveillance of gender-affirming care to family surveillance apps.
This was also a year of growth and renewal for our organization. We were proud to welcome our new Executive Director, Michelle Dahl, who is working with our staff, board, and community partners to lead S.T.O.P. into its next chapter of impact.
We are entering the new year with determination, hope, and a clear vision for what comes next in the fight for civil rights and against mass surveillance. Whether you donated, attended an event, shared our work, or volunteered your time, please know that you are an essential part of this movement, and we are deeply grateful.
From all of us at S.T.O.P., we wish you a warm, restful, and joyful Thanksgiving in community!
|
|
|
In solidarity,
Team S.T.O.P.
|
|
|
|
|
