AI-Powered Weapons Scanners Under Fire in New York City Subway System
Pilot Program Falsely Alerts Over 100 Times, Finds No Firearms
A pilot program testing AI-powered weapons scanners inside some New York City subway stations this summer did not detect any passengers with firearms – but falsely alerted more than 100 times, according to newly released police data.
False Positives and Real Concerns
Through nearly 3,000 searches, the scanners turned up more than 118 false positives as well as 12 knives, police said, though they declined to say whether the positive hits referred to illegal blades or tools, such as pocket knives, that are allowed in the transit system.
Background and Controversy
Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat and tech enthusiast, announced plans to pilot the portable scanners, manufactured by Evolv, at a handful of subway stations this past summer in an effort to deter violence within the subway system. The announcement drew skepticism from some riders and civil liberties groups, who argued it was neither feasible nor constitutional to scan millions of riders who enter the subway system through hundreds of entrances each day. Violent crime is rare in the system, though the announcement came on the back of two high-profile shooting incidents.
New York Police Department’s Statement
After Adams promised for months to make the results of the test public, the New York Police Department released a four-sentence statement Wednesday night noting it had performed 2,749 scans at 20 stations during the 30-day period. In total, there were 118 false positives – a rate of 4.29%.
Criticism and Concerns
The statement did not describe the length of time of each screening, how many officers were required to staff the devices or how many riders refused the searches. Inquiries to Evolv were not returned. Earlier this month, a police spokesperson said they were still “evaluating the outcome of the pilot” and had not entered into any contract with Evolv.
Evolv’s Controversial Past
Evolv has faced legal issues in recent years, including federal probes into its marketing practices led by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Earlier this year, investors filed a class-action lawsuit, accusing company executives of overstating the devices’ capabilities and claiming that “Evolv does not reliably detect knives or guns.”
Conclusion
The pilot program’s results have been met with criticism from the Legal Aid Society, which stated that the program was "objectively a failure, no matter how hard City Hall tries to spin this data." Given the concerns and controversies surrounding the program, it is unclear whether the technology will be expanded or deployed in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the purpose of the pilot program?
A: The pilot program aimed to test the use of AI-powered weapons scanners in certain New York City subway stations to deter violence and improve public safety.
Q: How many scans were performed during the pilot program?
A: The New York Police Department performed 2,749 scans at 20 stations during the 30-day period.
Q: How many false positives were detected?
A: The scanners turned up more than 118 false positives, which represents a rate of 4.29%.
Q: What happened to the results of the pilot program?
A: The New York Police Department released a four-sentence statement on the results, but many questions remained unanswered, including the length of time of each screening, how many officers were required to staff the devices, and how many riders refused the searches.
