S.T.O.P.—Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

Join the fight to stop surveillance! You can support S.T.O.P. as a charity runner in upcoming races, including the NYC United Half Marathon on March 15th.

Visit stopspying.org/marathons to learn more.

#Marathon #UnitedHalf #NYCHalf

S.T.O.P. joined @cdt.org, the @brennancenter.org, and @rightsdissent.bsky.social in signing an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reject an overbroad geofence warrant.

cdt.org/insights/cdt...

www.law360.com/articles/244...

These bills could ban NYC landlords and businesses from using facial recognition technology The New York City Council held a hearing over two bills that would ban NYC landlords and businesses from using facial recognition technology.

Yesterday, March 2nd, S.T.O.P. held a press conference and rally alongside civil rights groups and Council Members urge the New York City Council to ban facial recognition and other forms of biometric surveillance.

Read more.

#NYC #Surveillance #BanTheScan

www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-bio...

"Time and time again, facial recognition has been used to jeopardise the safety and violate the rights of Black and Brown New Yorkers...The technology is incompatible with human rights law and the City must now urgently move to ban in it." @amnesty.org's Matt Mahmoudi

"We cannot let technologies that systematically discriminate against people of color determine where people can go and whether they pose a risk." @legalaidnyc.bsky.social's Laura Moraff

"To allow this technology to operate in essential businesses invites discrimination at scale. Policymakers have a responsibility to prevent tools with known racial bias from causing harm." - Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at NYU Law's Nina Loshkajian

"Whether it’s buying groceries, opening your front door, or attending a sports game, the current lack of regulation over biometric surveillance technology is...defying basic Constitutional principles and putting New Yorkers at risk." @nyclu.org's Medha Raman

"We’ve seen over and over how facial recognition perpetuates discrimination and systemic bias, and we’re proud to continue fighting for legislation that will ban these technologies in housing and public spaces." - STOP's Corinne Worthington

Council Member, Advocates Rally Against Facial Recognition Before City Council Considers Bans — S.T.O.P. - The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

BREAKING: Council Members, Advocates Rally Against Facial Recognition Before City Council Considers Bans

@cmshahanahanif.bsky.social @cmalexaaviles.bsky.social #BanTheScan #FacialRecognition #surveillance
www.stopspying.org/latest-news/...

Tell Sen. Chuck Schumer to stand firm against ICE's rogue terrorism. Not one more penny for violence and abuse in our communities! 🙅🧊💵

Call his NYC office at (212) 486-4430 and use the script below.

You can also reach him using our email tool at nyic.me/dhs-shutdown

@cmshahanahanif.bsky.social @cmpisanchez.bsky.social @nyclu.org @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @nycdsatech.bsky.social

Council Member Shahana Hanif Will Rally to Ban Biometric Recognition Technology Alongside Advocates — S.T.O.P. - The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

MEDIA ADVISORY: Council Member Shahana Hanif Will Rally to Ban Biometric Recognition Technology Alongside Advocates

Monday, March 2nd, 9 AM. Details here:
www.stopspying.org/latest-news/...

S.T.O.P. Report Demands Mamdani Dismantle NYC Surveillance State, Details Policy Recommendations — S.T.O.P. - The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

“Dear Mamdani,” today’s report from S.T.O.P., gives Mayor Mamdani a roadmap to ending NYC’s surveillance state.

Read more at the link below, and read the full report at stopspying.org/dear-mamdani.

#NYC #Surveillance #NYPD #Mamdani

A Columbia Student Was Detained by DHS Columbia student Ellie Aghayeva was reportedly detained by DHS agents at her university-owned apartment after they used ‘misrepresentations’ to gain access to the building.

Columbia student Ellie Aghayeva was reportedly detained by DHS agents at her university-owned apartment after they used ‘misrepresentations’ to gain access to the building.

"Mayor Mamdani needs to deliver on his promises to dismantle NYC's surveillance state. This report shows him exactly how." - Manis #NYPD #surveillance @mayor.nyc.gov

"Our city’s surveillance infrastructure puts immigrant New Yorkers at risk, and threatens anyone the Trump administration may target next: protestors, healthcare seekers, blacklisted researchers, journalists." - Manis #NYPD #surveillance @mayor.nyc.gov

"Mayor Mamdani has denounced data-sharing that enables ICE and condemned NYPD’s use of facial recognition, the gang database, and social media monitoring tools. But eight weeks into his administration, he has yet to act." - STOP Research Director Eleni Manis #NYPD #surveillance @mayor.nyc.gov

S.T.O.P. Report Demands Mamdani Dismantle NYC Surveillance State, Details Policy Recommendations — S.T.O.P. - The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

BREAKING: S.T.O.P. Report Demands Mamdani Dismantle NYC Surveillance State, Details Policy Recommendations

@mayor.nyc.gov #NYPD #Mamdani #surveillance

www.stopspying.org/latest-news/...

Ex-NYPD official's indictment prompts calls for review of Adams-era contracts A former NYPD executive was indicted for what federal prosecutors say was a corrupt scheme with a private technology company.

A former NYPD inspector was indicted for allegedly taking cash bribes to steer an $11M public safety tech contract, awarded with almost no public oversight.

This is what happens when surveillance tech is built in the dark. Read more here:

Smart glasses in court are a privacy nightmare Putting smart glasses on trial.

A judge threatened contempt when Zuckerberg's team wore Meta Ray-Bans, cameras disguised as eyewear, into a no-recording courtroom.

Smart glasses need smart regulation when even a courtroom isn't safe from surveillance. Read more here:

Across the country, surveillance tech is growing faster than oversight. The time to act is now.

STOP is launching #PowerDownSurveillance to fight back against the surveillance state through litigation, research, and public education.

Support the campaign here: bit.ly/powerdownsurveillance

New state bill proposals seek to protect the rights of those who monitor and protest against ICE Recent crackdowns by the federal government against residents of cities that have rejected its immigration operations have prompted legislative initiatives to protect their freedoms

"The Trump administration has directly called for the repression of protesters and observers documenting ICE’s brutality. These are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader government strategy to stifle dissent." - STOP Communications Director Will Owen #ICE
english.elpais.com/usa/2026-02-...

So excited that the amazing @shiraovide.bsky.social will join me at NYU for the the US launch of Evan Selinger's and my new book: Move Slow and Upgrade! Free tickets for the March 4th event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/funtime-bo...

A promotional image features a group portrait of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP) team, posed on a sofa with text highlighting their work.

Grateful to Brooklyn Org for recognizing S.T.O.P. as a 2026 Spark Prize recipient. This support helps sustain our work resisting invasive surveillance and advancing privacy justice.  #SparkPrize2026
www.brooklynpaper.com/2026-spark-p...

“Free” Surveillance Tech Still Comes At A High And Dangerous Cost Surveillance technology vendors, federal agencies, and wealthy private donors have long helped provide local law enforcement “free” access to surveillance equipment that bypasses local ov…

S.T.O.P.'s 2024 research report on how fusion centers violate civil rights laws and enable ICE activity is mentioned in a new article from TechDirt.

Read more.

www.techdirt.com/2026/02/18/f...

How to Organize Safely in the Age of Surveillance From threat modeling to encrypted collaboration apps, we’ve collected experts’ tips and tools for safely and effectively building a group—even while being targeted and tracked by the powerful.

The federal government now "possesses vast surveillance powers and sweeping cooperation from the Silicon Valley companies that hold Americans’ data." Read more about how to stay safe from targeted surveillance when organizing and protesting.

www.wired.com/story/how-to...

How ICE uses facial recognition in the streets Al Jazeera’s Linh Nguyen explains how ICE has effectively turned the US into a checkpoint society.

ICE is using the app Mobile Fortify to check immigration status: "this tool has effectively turned the US into a checkpoint society."

Read more.

www.aljazeera.com/video/digita...

Across the country, surveillance tech is growing faster than oversight. The time to act is now.

STOP is launching #PowerDownSurveillance to fight back against the surveillance state through litigation, research, and public education.

Support the campaign here: bit.ly/powerdownsurveillance

We and other groups @freedom.press @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @mad-democracy.journa.host.ap.brid.gy @nppa.org @nyclu.org @sejorg.bsky.social @stopspyingny.bsky.social wrote to the NYS legislative leaders urging them to act now to strengthen FOIL in their FY27 one-house budgets. buff.ly/kioqrp0

Mamdani faces first showdown with NYPD – will he risk alienating police? As an assembly member, Mamdani backed the Stop Fakes Act. Now, the NYPD has admitted to spying online – but wielding actual power as mayor is complex

“Mamdani was a strong partner in the fight against mass surveillance while an assembly member,” said communications director Will Owen. “S.T.O.P. will continue to hold him accountable, and we are cautiously optimistic that he will continue that fight.”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...