NYPD Domain Awareness System

The Domain Awareness System (DAS) is a digital surveillance system run by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and Microsoft as part of the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative. 

Announced in 2012 as a crime prevention and anti-terrorism measure, DAS 'utilizes the largest networks of cameras, license plate readers, and radiological sensors in the world', according to the NYPD.

Risks and harms 🛑

Since its inception, NYPD's Domain Awareness System has raised concerns about ethics, privacy, and bias.

Surveillance Technology Oversight Project objection

Hot on the heels of Microsoft's decision to join IBM and Amazon in temporarily barring police from using its facial recognition technologies, a group of digital and privacy activists published (pdf) a letter requesting that Microsoft stop working with the NYPD on its Domain Awareness System (DAS). 

The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project says the system contributes to the 'warrantless spying' of citizens and 'may be even more biased, invasive, and destructive than facial recognition'. 

Amnesty 'Ban the scan'

In January 2021, Amnesty International launched 'Ban the Scan', a campaign calling on New York City authorities to halt police and government use of the technology. 

Specifically, Amnesty is encouraging NYC residents to file comments on the use of facial recognition by the NYPD under the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technologies Act. It will also help them with freedom-of-information requests.

Research, advocacy 🧮

• https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c1bfc7eee175995a4ceb638/t/5efa6467c206cb3ea2766fdf/1593468007804/2020-06-29+Ditch+DAS+Sign+On+Letter.pdf

• https://banthescan.amnesty.org/

• https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/01/ban-dangerous-facial-recognition-technology-that-amplifies-racist-policing/

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.fastcompany.com/90523877/microsoft-needs-to-stop-selling-surveillance-to-the-nypd

• https://fortune.com/2020/06/30/civil-rights-groups-urge-microsoft-to-end-nypd-partnership/

• https://www.dailydot.com/debug/domain-awareness-system-microsoft-surveillance-nypd/

• https://thehill.com/policy/technology/558890-exclusive-scrutiny-mounts-on-microsofts-surveillance-technology

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/investors-pressure-microsoft-over-surveillance-tech-policies/ar-AAL9ujj

• https://theintercept.com/2020/07/14/microsoft-police-state-mass-surveillance-facial-recognition/

• https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/25/22248849/new-york-city-facial-recognition-ban-amnesty-international-nypd

• https://www.fastcompany.com/90596320/amnesty-international-crowdsourced-facial-recognition-map

• https://www.wired.com/story/next-target-facial-recognition-ban-new-york/

• https://www.dailydot.com/debug/facial-recognition-ban-the-scan-new-york-campaign/

• https://www.technewsworld.com/story/86998.html

• https://iapp.org/news/a/amnesty-international-seeks-ban-on-police-use-of-facial-recognition-in-nyc/

• https://thenextweb.com/neural/2021/01/27/amnesty-international-calls-for-ban-on-facial-recognition/

• https://findbiometrics.com/amnesty-fights-police-surveillance-new-ban-scan-campaign-012708/

• https://www.biometricupdate.com/202101/states-ponder-facial-recognition-regulation-survey-shows-heightened-privacy-concerns-in-china

• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/25/new-york-facial-recognition-technology-police