Q&A
Protection of bystander data in NYPD drone footage
1:50:21
ยท
117 sec
Council Member Chi Osse inquires about the NYPD's practices for protecting bystander data captured in drone footage during non-criminal investigations such as floods or building collapses. The NYPD representatives provide information on their current practices and acknowledge some uncertainties.
- In exigent circumstances like building collapses or floods, saving lives takes priority over data protection
- It is possible that bystanders' faces may be captured in drone footage
- The standard 30-day deletion policy applies, but there's uncertainty about retention for specific incidents
- The NYPD representatives were unable to provide definitive answers about how bystander data is documented or stored
- They committed to following up with more information within 14 days
Chi Osse
1:50:21
Sure.
1:50:22
Thank you for that answer.
1:50:23
The last question that I have is I know that I spoke about instances in terms of when drones are deployed and I think it was noted in regards to floods or building collapses.
1:50:34
And I know those are not necessarily criminal investigations.
1:50:38
But in the process of when those drones are deployed, is there any mechanism for protecting the data and biometrics of bystanders when the drones are capturing footage of a flood or of a building that is collapsing?
Michael Gerber
1:50:56
I'm not sure this totally answers your question, but the way I'm thinking about that is if we're in a situation, building collapse, flood, we're talking exigent circumstances, right?
1:51:08
We're trying to save lives.
1:51:10
You know, in terms of how a drone is deployed and zooming in there, we're going to do what we need to do to try to keep people safe and again save people.
1:51:19
I think what you're getting at is, okay, we're doing that.
1:51:21
Is it possible that some random person has their face capture on the drone footage?
1:51:26
Yes, that is possible.
1:51:27
And then again, it would be deleted after thirty days.
Chi Osse
1:51:29
Even if it is a building collapse or a flood, that footage is deleted after thirty days?
Michael Gerber
1:51:36
So that's a good question.
1:51:38
I actually don't the question is would that video be otherwise retained for some reason?
Michael Eichner
1:51:44
Right.
Michael Gerber
1:51:45
I actually don't know the answer.
Chi Osse
1:51:46
And then if a bystander is captured within that footage, is that documented and kept within a certain data file or cloud?
1:51:57
So
Michael Gerber
1:52:07
we don't know the answer to that question.
1:52:09
We will get back to you.
Chi Osse
1:52:10
Okay.
1:52:10
Maybe let's say in in fourteen days, we could get a response to the chair and and maybe my email as well about an answer to that question.
1:52:16
Thank you very much.
1:52:18
Thank you, chairs.
Yusef Salaam
1:52:18
Thank you as well.