An oversight hearing on the NYPD’s use of surveillance technology to tackle crime was held on Friday. 

The precedent was set by the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, which requires police to assess and disclose to the public their use of surveillance technology. A 2022 report from NYPD’s own Inspector General found that the department is not fully complying with the law. 

NYPD is also required to give the public a few months to see what is coming before police start using it. If a new piece of technology is already similar to what is already being used, the NYPD says there’s no need to go through the whole process again.  

City council members are also pushing for several bills that would build upon the POST Act to ensure that the public are better informed about the new technology.