NYPD To Test Public Announcement Drones During Emergencies (vice.com) 49
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: [T]he NYPD announced it's piloting test drones to fly over at-risk neighborhoods and make public announcements during emergencies. On Sunday, at the tail end of a weekend of heavy rainfall and flooding, New York City's emergency notification system tweeted that the NYPD would be "conducting a test of remote-piloted public messaging capabilities" at a location confirmed to AM New York as Hook Creek Park in Queens. The NYPD told AM New York that the drones were being tested to make announcements during weather-related emergencies, and were being tested in advance of more flooding expected this weekend. The comments suggest that public announcement drones could be deployed in a real-world scenario very soon.
Besides the eeriness of a drone instructing New Yorkers during life-threatening emergencies, the test raises questions about the NYPD's compliance with laws that require the agency to alert the public when deploying surveillance technology. The NYPD is required to post an impact statement and use policy on its website and seek public comment 90 days prior to deploying new surveillance technology to comply with the 2020 POST Act. However, according to the law, the NYPD merely has to amend old use policies if it is using previously existing surveillance tech for new purposes. For its use policy for unmanned aircraft, finalized in April 2021, there is no mention of the emergency announcements. The document says, "In situations where deployment of NYPD (drones) has not been foreseen or prescribed in policy, the highest uniformed member of the NYPD, the Chief of Department, will decide if deployment is appropriate and lawful. In accordance with the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act, an addendum to this impact and use policy will be prepared as necessary to describe any additional uses of UAS." No such addendum appears on the website. "This plan just isn't going to fly. The city already has countless ways of reaching New Yorkers, and it would take thousands of drones to reach the whole city," Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project told Motherboard by email.
"The drones are a terrible way to alert New Yorkers, but they are a great way to creep us out. More alarmingly, the NYPD is once again violating the landmark Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, which requires public notice and comment before deploying new surveillance systems." Cahn added: "No gadget is going to be a substitute for effective city management and communication practices."
Besides the eeriness of a drone instructing New Yorkers during life-threatening emergencies, the test raises questions about the NYPD's compliance with laws that require the agency to alert the public when deploying surveillance technology. The NYPD is required to post an impact statement and use policy on its website and seek public comment 90 days prior to deploying new surveillance technology to comply with the 2020 POST Act. However, according to the law, the NYPD merely has to amend old use policies if it is using previously existing surveillance tech for new purposes. For its use policy for unmanned aircraft, finalized in April 2021, there is no mention of the emergency announcements. The document says, "In situations where deployment of NYPD (drones) has not been foreseen or prescribed in policy, the highest uniformed member of the NYPD, the Chief of Department, will decide if deployment is appropriate and lawful. In accordance with the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act, an addendum to this impact and use policy will be prepared as necessary to describe any additional uses of UAS." No such addendum appears on the website. "This plan just isn't going to fly. The city already has countless ways of reaching New Yorkers, and it would take thousands of drones to reach the whole city," Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project told Motherboard by email.
"The drones are a terrible way to alert New Yorkers, but they are a great way to creep us out. More alarmingly, the NYPD is once again violating the landmark Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, which requires public notice and comment before deploying new surveillance systems." Cahn added: "No gadget is going to be a substitute for effective city management and communication practices."
Ammunition (Score:4)
Re: (Score:3)
Will they dispense knockout gas or bullets?
It will dispense lead-saturated "knockout gas" with great velocity.
"""at-risk""" neighborhoods? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
It is nowhere near the risk that black and brown people face from other black and brown people, which is why, in general, black and brown people favor MORE law enforcement, not less. As do I, although with some constraints that don't exist at present.
I still have zero tolerance for that small handful of police who abuse their power, whether for racist reasons, or for any other. I'm against "stop and frisk" absent probable cause. I also believe police should come from the neighborhoods in which they will
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What could possibly go wrong? (Score:2)
It's an emergency (Score:2)
Of course people should be freaked out. That's the whole point! What do you want a sleepy emergency notification? A gentle nudge telling you to evacuate? People already ignore fire alarms.
POST (Score:2)
Perfect introduction to dystopian futures (Score:3)
"And then life was no longer worth living."
"The End"
Re: (Score:2)
How would you even know it was an NYPD drone? Anyone can buy a drone, apply NYPD livery, and have it say whatever they like.
Re: Perfect introduction to dystopian futures (Score:2)
Re: Perfect introduction to dystopian futures (Score:2)
Obviously because while the message is auditory, it's also blasting out a PGP signed message wirelessly. Oh wait, we can't have nice things because politicians are blithering idiots.
You have 15 seconds to comply (Score:4, Insightful)
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I'D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR!!!*
(all caps intentional for authenticity)
Re: You have 15 seconds to comply (Score:2)
NUCLEAR MISSLES ARE INCOMING. STUFF YOUR CHILDREN INTO SEWER OPENINGS!!!
Also a great test message, if they just wanted to test and see what would happen.
Welcome to City 17! (Score:3)
commentsubject (Score:1)
even used solely for announcements, the mental image of a booming "establishment" voice echoing across an urbanscape is quite well established as a dystopic one
that said i think "city already has countless ways of reaching New Yorkers" is gargling on a telecom sense of security
THAT all said there's no way they'll be solely used for announcements - ACTUAL prevention of future straying is all that matters, not "a paper rule says so" prevention
From the movie... (Score:3)
From the movie "Blade Runner" the early 80s release, after Rick Deckard retires a replicant, a police car/drone is intoning "Move on, move on..." while the police are checking the scene. So very prescient scene, idea? Now for the NYPD to implement...
JoshK.
Bird Shot In A 12 Gauge Shotgun (Score:2)
One of those newer Gatling gun style setups mounted on the roof of your 4x4. Maybe someone can enlighten us on the name of that bad boy. I've lost touch with all my old friends in Alabama that kept up with all that stuff.
Re: (Score:2)
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You can't fire a weapon into the air in or near New York without a huge risk of it landing on someone innocent.
I'm pro-RKBA, even in New York, but the use of a weapon under any circumstances should always be a last resort, not a first. Especially where there is a large risk of collateral damage (which education, plus proper choice of weapon and ammo can help reduce).
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Well, if they start using against us in the future then that law wouldn't matter.
How to prevent imposters? (Score:4, Insightful)
Even if this drone system worked perfectly, how are they going to prevent imposters using drones pretending to be police drones? E.g. "evacuating" a store and then go in and take everything?
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A new life awaits you on the off world colonies (Score:2)
New Nexus models and probably promoting Tyrell Corporations new breakthroughs .
LoB
not a good idea (Score:4, Insightful)
the city of Rancho Cordova, CA regularly uses police helicopters to announce whatever is on their mind.
not good.
the city of NY should be prepared to hear a bunch of announcements. police think they are the bees knees, everything will be an emergency and there will be plenty of things needed broadcasting.
trust me folks, this sucks. it reminds me of loudspeakers in China and Vietnam. folks, these are communist countries and we’re headed in the same direction.
Re: not a good idea (Score:2)
"Curfew starts in 15 minutes. Stay inside your homes or be shot on sight."
Oh wait, whoops I had the drone switched to dictatorship.
LOL the freakout is funny (Score:3, Interesting)
How is this different than a speaker on a police car, other than it also makes a buzzing sound and reaches more people.
I guess "in the sky" makes it scary. But this is good for you citizens. Stay distracted by the fact we got a toy with a speaker. It'll stop you questioning us about our military grade weapons.
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How is this different than a speaker on a police car,
It will use blockchain AI and facial recognition to steal all your bitcoins.
If you don't comply it will block your Instagram and you'll be forced back to Twitter.
What could go wrong? (Score:4, Funny)
The NYPD.
That's it. That's the comment.
A New Life Awaits You on the Off World Colonies! (Score:1)
Some real Blade Runner ideas going on there.
Who? (Score:2)
Re: Who? (Score:2)
What prevents you from already doing this?
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haha good one (Score:2)
These will be fun in the next hurricane or blizzard.
They better not ask for another dime (Score:2)
If the NYPD has money for "announcement drones", when there is *already* a system to send an emergency message to every cell phone within a certain radius, then either they have too much money (I'd sooner they gave raises to officers than spend money on these drones), or the drones aren't for announcements.
New York City has some of the toughest gun laws in the country...but it sounds like the NYPD wants give targets to their constituents who possess firearms. No New Yorker is going to snitch on which neighb
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Not even after innocent people are injured or killed by having it (or the bullet) fall on them? Or maybe start a fire that takes out a whole city block and half the people in it?
I'm no rat - I prefer to deal with miscreants in a more old-school fashion. But just because I might not rat out someone who puts innocent people at risk, doesn't mean I won't deal with that person some other way.
Dark Angel (Score:2)
Guess someone rewatched Dark Angel and thought it was a good idea.
Wording (Score:1)
Drone authentication (Score:2)
An argumentation is very bad (Score:1)
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