Due to pressure from Mamdani: New York Police cancels deal with Israeli company

The New York Police Department (NYPD) canceled a $750,000 deal with the Israeli intelligence company Cognyte to purchase a cellular surveillance system, following pressure from supporters of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The system, FalcoNet, uses AI and poses as a cell tower (Stingray) for real-time location tracking. The NYPD stated the system was intended for fighting serious crime and locating missing persons, but civil rights groups argued it would harm privacy. The controversy centered on Mamdani, described as anti-Israeli, and Jewish commissioner Jessica Tisch. Pro-Palestinian council members criticized Mamdani for not fulfilling a campaign promise to sever ties with Israel. The article notes the purchase process was conducted without a tender, and that Cognyte has ties to dark regimes, including selling eavesdropping technology to a telecom company in Myanmar. Instead of the deal, the NYPD will develop an open competitive process.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) canceled a $750,000 deal with the Israeli intelligence company Cognyte to purchase a smart cellular surveillance system. The cancellation came after pressure from supporters of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who opposed the use of surveillance technology and the company's ties. The system, FalcoNet, is based on artificial intelligence and poses as a cell tower (Stingray) for real-time location tracking. The NYPD emphasized that the system was intended for fighting serious crime and locating missing persons, but civil rights organizations argued it would harm privacy. At the center of the storm were Mamdani, described in the article as anti-Israeli, and Jewish commissioner Jessica Tisch. Pro-Palestinian council members criticized Mamdani for not fulfilling a campaign promise to sever ties with Israel. The article notes that the purchase process was conducted without a tender, and that Cognyte has ties to dark regimes, including selling eavesdropping technology to a telecom company in Myanmar. Instead of the deal, the NYPD will develop an open competitive process.