The Challenges of Implementing Weapons-Detection Technology in NYC Subways
Overlap with Former NYPD Members
There was significant overlap between former members of the NYPD and the individuals involved in the discussion about implementing weapons-detection technology in the NYC subway system. With 472 stations and roughly 1,000 subway station entrances, the task of effectively monitoring the entire system is daunting. Sarah Kaufman, director of the New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation, emphasizes that Evolv, the company providing the technology, would need to be present at every single entrance to ensure effectiveness.
Vague Policies and Reliance on Police Officers
The draft policy released by the NYPD regarding the implementation of weapons-detection technology in the subway system is extremely vague and heavily relies on the presence of police officers. The frequency of passenger inspections, such as every fifth or tenth passenger, will be determined by the checkpoint supervisor and will depend on the availability of police personnel to conduct the inspections.
Potential Impact on Passengers
With an estimated 3.6 million daily riders, stopping every 10th passenger for inspection would result in 360,000 searches per day. This raises concerns about the invasiveness and inconvenience that passengers may face on a regular basis. Cahn, a critic of the proposed measures, argues that the city continues to prioritize highly visible security measures, even when they prove to be ineffective.
Evolv’s Technology in Schools
Mistaking Everyday Objects for Weapons
While Evolv’s technology has been deployed in schools, internal emails from a large school district using the scanners reveal instances where everyday objects were mistaken for weapons. Jacqueline Barone, principal of Piedmont Middle School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina, expressed her frustration in an email at the end of 2022:
I know the simple solution is to tell kids not to use binders but rather regular notebooks, but it hurts my soul to have to tell kids or teachers that certain supplies can’t be used because the scanners mistake them for weapons.
This highlights the challenges and limitations of relying solely on technology for security purposes, as it may lead to unnecessary restrictions on students’ learning materials and supplies.
3 Comments
Big Brother vibes anyone? This sounds like a sci-fi novel, not NYC!
Well, if that doesn’t scream dystopia, I don’t know what does.
Talk about taking surveillance to a whole new level in NYC, huh?