Ahead of a City Council hearing, the NYPD released extensive information about its use of surveillance technologies including robot dogs, drones, and facial recognition systems as mandated by the POST Act. The disclosure has drawn criticism for lacking full transparency and highlighting the deployment of repressive technologies in law enforcement.

On February 13, 2025, an appeals court ruled that the NYPD must disclose documents related to its surveillance technology contracts, which include systems for cellphone tracking and facial recognition. This decision, following a FOIL lawsuit by the Legal Aid Society, is seen as a victory for transparency and accountability, potentially curbing authoritarian practices by forcing scrutiny of extensive surveillance expenditures.

An appeals court ruled that the NYPD must disclose documents related to its $3 billion surveillance technology contracts, forcing the department to reveal details of its secretive SPEX program after its previous refusal to comply with a FOIL request.

An appeals court ruling on February 11, 2025, mandates that the NYPD disclose all documents related to approximately $3 billion in contracts for surveillance and facial recognition technology under the Special Expenses (SPEX) program, enhancing transparency and democratic oversight.

An appeals court ruled that the NYPD must disclose all documents related to its $3 billion surveillance technology contracts under the SPEX program. The order mandates transparency over the department’s use of surveillance and facial recognition technologies, highlighting longstanding concerns over repressive monitoring practices.

Following lawsuits by civil rights organizations including NYCLU, the NYPD reached a settlement agreement that reforms protest policing. The new tiered system restricts the deployment of aggressive units such as the Strategic Response Group, bans tactics like kettling and intimidating helicopter surveillance, limits certain arrests without supervisory approval, and establishes enhanced internal discipline and oversight mechanisms.

The article reports that in 2023, the NYPD recorded a dramatic increase in stops, with 16,971 incidents including a disproportionate impact on Black and Latinx communities. It highlights that nearly 89% of those stopped were from these groups, under policies linked to Mayor Adams' approach, which some argue reflects a shift towards authoritarian policing tactics and increased police abuse.

An oversight hearing held on December 15, 2023, criticized the NYPD for not fully complying with the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act. The hearing highlighted issues including inadequate transparency, lack of new Individual Use Policies (IUPs) for emerging surveillance technologies like Robocops and Digidogs, and a general failure to meet the act’s accountability demands.

Following a legal settlement arising from civil rights lawsuits related to the 2020 protests, the NYPD has agreed to adopt new protest response protocols. The 44‐page agreement mandates reduced police deployment at protests, establishes a tiered response system prioritizing de-escalation, and bans the controversial kettling tactic. These reforms aim to safeguard protestors' First Amendment rights and reduce instances of excessive force.

In June 2023, the Legal Aid Society released a comprehensive database containing over 450,000 records documenting misconduct by NYPD officers. The database, compiled from various sources including FOIL requests and investigative journalism, highlights longstanding issues with transparency and accountability within the department.

On March 29, 2023, during a City Council hearing, the NYPD announced its support for a new bill that would require the department to publicly disclose detailed information on how it spends private donations, including funds from the Police Foundation. This move comes amidst longstanding criticism over opaque spending on controversial initiatives such as surveillance technology and other high-tech law enforcement tools.

Over 450,000 records documenting police misconduct, including internal complaints, lawsuits, and disciplinary actions, have been aggregated and made available online by the Legal Aid Society. This public release highlights longstanding issues within the NYPD regarding accountability and transparency.

An audit from the New York City Police Foundation’s 2013 tax filing revealed that nearly half of the $6.5 million distributed was allocated to a technology campaign for the NYPD. This funding, sourced from private donors with ties to technology companies that supply surveillance tools, raises concerns about transparency and the circumvention of standard public procurement and oversight processes.

In 2012, tax records and documents revealed that the New York City Police Foundation received a $1 million donation from the government of the United Arab Emirates. The funds were transferred to the NYPD Intelligence Division to support overseas intelligence and equipment upgrades, raising serious concerns over transparency, potential foreign influence, and the bypassing of public oversight in domestic security operations.