Inspired by Israel Police’s successful drone deployment, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is bringing similar strategies home.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has announced its intention to use drones for monitoring during the upcoming weekend’s festivities.
This weekend presents a convergence of events and holidays, straining the police department’s resources. Labor Day, the West Indian Day Parade, and J’ouvert, a Trinidadian festival commemorating emancipation from slavery, all fall on Monday.
During these events, many residents host barbeques, parties, and family gatherings. In previous years, these celebrations have been marred by violence, prompting the NYPD to take proactive measures to ensure safety this year.
The festivities typically commence with J’ouvert’s pre-dawn carnival procession in Crown Heights at 6 a.m., attracting up to two million attendees in past years, according to the New York Times.
Assistant Police Commissioner Kaz Daughtry explained at a press conference that when callers report large crowds or parties in their backyards, the NYPD will employ its assets to investigate and verify the reports.
However, some city residents are concerned that the use of drones may infringe on their constitutional rights.
“It’s a troubling announcement and it flies in the face of the POST Act,” said Daniel Schwarz, a privacy and technology strategist at the New York Civil Liberties Union. The Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act mandates that the NYPD disclose its surveillance strategies and tactics to the public.
Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), expressed similar concerns, noting the lack of protections against the potential use of these cameras in private spaces.
The push for increased drone usage and surveillance is attributed to New York Mayor Eric Adams’s recent visit to Israel. Adams has been actively pursuing the modernization and technological advancement of the New York Police, which includes the introduction of drones, robotic dogs, and GPS trackers.
Source: with agencies