1 yr. ago • 99%

New York police will use drones to monitor backyard parties this weekend, spurring privacy concerns

apnews.com New York police will use drones to monitor backyard parties this weekend, spurring privacy concerns

Those attending outdoor parties or barbecues in New York City this weekend may find an uninvited guest looming over their festivities: a police drone.

The New York City police department plans to pilot the unmanned aircrafts in response to complaints about large gatherings, including private events, over Labor Day weekend, officials announced Thursday.

“If a caller states there’s a large crowd, a large party in a backyard, we’re going to be utilizing our assets to go up and go check on the party,” Kaz Daughtry, the assistant NYPD Commissioner, said at a press conference.

The plan drew immediate backlash from privacy and civil liberties advocates, raising questions about whether such drone use violated existing laws for police surveillance.

“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, referring to a 2020 city law that requires the NYPD to disclose its surveillance tactics. “Deploying drones in this way is a sci-fi inspired scenario.”

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114 comments

Is it illegal to have house parties in NYC? Why is the NYPD busting up keggers like campus police?

140
Ah, it wouldn’t be the police if they didn’t try to violate people’s rights before lawmakers can tell them no.

72
Oh no, not a large crowd on private property - this deservers police spying! /S

69
They totally won't use this to perv on girls sunning themselves on their private property. They have already been busted multiple times perving on girls walking in midtown but they would never do anything like that again and again and again.

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we’re going to be utilizing our assets to go up and go check on the party

Still bitter that they were never invited to any parties in high school and college. Seriously though, they need to back the fuck up. We have an amendment that requires them to get a warrant to spy on us on our own property or in our own house. Civil liberties groups need to stop raising questions and sue the fuck out of the police, judges, Mayor, and legislature. I hope someone knocks those drones out of the air. This kind of shit is infuriating. And no this isn't a sci-fi scenario, this is a clear and present dystopia.

54
I'm not from US - why is it forbidden to have a large group of people in the backyard?
As for the drones - just wow...

53
Reading comments defending cops for launching drones to surveill people in their homes really boosts my morning faith in humanity.

51
Land of the not even slightly free.

42
what a crazy abuse of power and resources fuck the police

39
This all seems stupid.

If you have a party big and crazy enough to justify airborne surveillance, the police will be able to figure it out just by showing up at your door. No drones are needed.

That being said, NYC has been flying helicopters for decades, so really nothing new privacy wise other than the size of the aircraft and the fact that "drone" invokes fears that drive clicks.

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For people wanting to take down drones, I think a directed energy weapon would work. It uses a beam high frequency radio waves or microwaves to disable electronics. Since there's no projectile, it would be easier to use without getting caught.

30
Sorry what's the problem with a party?

29
Easy fix. Take a picture of the ground, using a drone. Then get a big marquee and have that picture painted on the marquee.

Your party is now invisible.

26
Seems a great use of an anti drone gun

24
There's a book I think everyone should read, and it's not Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

23
Is it illegal to blind drone cameras with lasers yet?

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I be establishing an anti drone firing squad in NYC. We will shoot down any law enforcement drones we find. Fuck the NYPD. fuck the mayor. If your drone flies over my property in NYC it will be shot lol.

16
Remember when bill of rights?

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Permanently Deleted

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You know i'm not a fan of guns but this makes me think about buying an anti aircraft weapon...

14
i hope they can be dazzled/jammed in a way that is not illegal. just have bright lamps pointing up or something

12
Use your own drone to say hi...

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And people just accept this

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This sounds as bad as Russia. Or even worse. Congrats on achieveing new level of shittyness.

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Replace drone with helicopter and this isn't tech news. This isn't any different a tactic, either.

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This is as bad as Russia. Or even worse. Congrats on achieving new bottom.

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You control the airspace of your property, I don’t think they can legally fly over without permission.

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Every day I thank god I live down here in Florida and not that shithole up north

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