Unresolved Conundrums Regarding Eric Adams's Broadened Monitoring in New York City's Public Housing Establishments
In a revelation that has sparked controversy, it has been discovered that the New York Police Department (NYPD) is using the city's free broadband program for public housing residents, Big Apple Connect, to network and access CCTV cameras in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments for police surveillance.
Initially, there were conflicting statements from official spokespeople. NYCHA stated that Big Apple Connect was "not intended to support NYCHA’s CCTV cameras," while Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) representatives suggested the police did not have live access. However, recent confirmations from the NYPD indicate otherwise. Through Big Apple Connect, officers can now access live camera feeds, playback, and view footage up to 30 days prior without needing to visit the sites in person.
This integration represents a significant expansion of NYPD surveillance within public housing using municipal broadband infrastructure. The NYPD is connecting CCTV cameras at NYCHA developments to the department's city-wide surveillance software, called the Domain Awareness System, a centralized surveillance platform. This move has raised concerns from advocacy groups and public commentators who argue that the free internet program, intended to close the digital divide, is also being used as a tool for "unchecked NYPD surveillance."
The NYPD has confirmed to New York Focus that the program is being used to implement real-time, remotely viewable video surveillance at at least 20 NYCHA developments. However, it remains unclear whether NYCHA was aware that OTI was linking its video cameras to the NYPD's central surveillance hub through Big Apple Connect. City Hall has not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding this matter.
It should be noted that the video surveillance component of Big Apple Connect was never publicly disclosed. New York Focus learned about it after reviewing OTI documents that laid out the agency's intention to link the housing authority's cameras to the NYPD three years ago. This connection enables the police department to stream footage in real-time without needing NYCHA's permission. The NYPD has not confirmed whether they have coordinated with NYCHA on the implementation of the video surveillance component of Big Apple Connect.
The NYPD has also not responded to questions regarding the use of facial recognition software in conjunction with this expanded surveillance. The current status of the program and the NYPD's remote access to NYCHA footage are also matters that remain unclear.
These findings reflect the situation as of August 2025 based on multiple reports and official communications. As the debate continues, questions about privacy, consent, and the intended purpose of municipal broadband programs remain at the forefront.
References: 1. New York Focus, 2025 2. The City, 2025 3. Gothamist, 2025 4. The Intercept, 2025 5. ACLU, 2025
Sports enthusiasts in New York City public housing developments might be surprised to learn that the technology used for their free broadband program, Big Apple Connect, is also being used by the NYPD for surveillance purposes. Inadvertently, local sports matches could be captured on the CCTV cameras networked through Big Apple Connect, providing a unique perspective on community activities.
