S.T.O.P. Condemns Adams’ Citizen Crowdsourced Surveillance Partnership

S.T.O.P. condemns Eric Adams’ launch of a New York City portal on Citizen, the controversial crowdsourced surveillance app.

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns Adams’ Citizen Crowdsourced Surveillance Partnership (New York, NY 7/21/2025) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns Eric Adams’ launch of a New York City portal on Citizen, the controversial crowdsourced surveillance app. The account will collect user-submitted videos from across the city. S.T.O.P. warned that apps like Citizen promote racial profiling and facilitate police violence toward BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities. SEE: Office of the Mayor - Mayor Adams Expands Public Safety Communications With 'NYC Public Safety' Account on Citizen App to Keep New Yorkers Safe and Informed https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/534-25/mayor-adams-expands-public-safety-communications-nyc-public-safety-account-citizen-app-to#/0 “In America’s most heavily surveilled city, the last thing we need is this sort of surveillance vigilantism, said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “Citizen is already accused of spreading rumors and misinformation about alleged crimes, putting innocent bystanders in harm’s way. This sort of partnership will spread fear, not information.” In 2021, S.T.O.P. released The Spy Next Door, a report detailing the dangers and bias of neighborhood surveillance apps that encourage users to upload video footage, photos, and descriptions of suspected crimes. SEE: Report – The Spy Next Door: The Danger of Neighborhood Surveillance Apps https://www.stopspying.org/thespynextdoor 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.