NYPD Bypassed Facial Recognition Ban to ID Pro-Palestinian Student Protester
10 months ago
- #facial-recognition
- #privacy
- #surveillance
- FDNY used facial recognition software (Clearview AI) to help NYPD identify a pro-Palestinian protester at Columbia University, bypassing NYPD's restrictions on the technology.
- The protester, Zuhdi Ahmed, was charged with a felony but the case was dismissed by a judge who raised concerns about surveillance practices violating policies.
- Clearview AI matches uploaded photos with billions of images from social media and other websites, widely used by law enforcement but restricted by NYPD.
- FDNY accessed DMV records typically unavailable to NYPD, aiding in Ahmed's identification, which the judge ruled contravened NYPD policies.
- Ahmed's photos from social media, including high school events, were used to identify him, raising privacy and surveillance concerns.
- Legal Aid Society filed a lawsuit to uncover more about FDNY's use of facial recognition technology after FOIL requests were ignored.
- The case highlights potential loopholes in the POST Act, prompting calls for expanded oversight of surveillance technologies across city agencies.
- Council members are drafting new legislation to close loopholes, ensuring transparency and prohibiting agencies from using surveillance tech on behalf of law enforcement.
- Ahmed, now focused on his future, described the ordeal as emotionally taxing and felt the charges exploited laws meant to protect minorities.