As the final summer weekend approaches, Americans all over the country are preparing for their festivities. However, in New York City, residents may have an unexpected presence overseeing their celebrations. The NYPD announced on Thursday that they will be employing surveillance drones during Labor Day weekend to monitor both public and private outdoor gatherings. This initiative aims to address complaints regarding excessively large crowds. Nevertheless, privacy and civil liberty advocates are casting doubt on the NYPD’s decision. Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry stated at a press conference, “If a caller reports a large crowd or a big party in a backyard, we will use our assets to investigate and verify the situation,” clarifying that the drones will be deployed for both non-priority and priority calls.
According to Engadget, the NYPD has been utilizing drones for various purposes for some time now, such as search and rescue operations and aerial surveillance of crime scenes. They have also employed drones during large-scale public events like New Year’s Eve in Times Square. However, critics are expressing concerns because the NYPD previously assured the public that the technology would not be used for “unwarranted surveillance.” Their recent announcement raises skepticism about the agency’s adherence to this promise. The Verge points out that “nosy neighbors annoyed by backyard parties” were not originally listed among the activities for which the NYPD planned to use drones. Daniel Schwarz, a privacy and tech strategist for the New York Civil Liberties Union, asserts, “Deploying drones in this manner resembles something out of a science fiction scenario.”
Schwarz is referring to a law implemented in 2020 in New York City that obligates the NYPD to disclose their surveillance methods. As stated by The Verge, under this law, the police department must provide a 90-day notice before using drones for any new form of surveillance, allowing the public to voice their opinions and contribute to the NYPD’s document on drone usage. The document emphasizes that “absent exigent circumstances, a UAS [unmanned aircraft system] will not be used in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy without the NYPD personnel first obtaining a search warrant that explicitly authorizes the use of a UAS.” The drones will be deployed until Monday morning. (Read more NYPD stories.)
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