AI Powered Metal Detectors coming to NYC Subway Stations

By BoroPark24 Staff

In yet another attempt to curb violence and crime on NYC’s subway system, Mayor Eric Adams unveiled plans to introduce AI powered metal detectors in NYC subway stations. This announcement comes after an uptick of crimes on the subway, including last month’s shooting on a train in Brooklyn and the fatal shoving of a passenger onto the tracks in Harlem. 

The new metal detectors use AI to differentiate between weapons and other metal items like cell phones and keys, and according to the mayor, have a 99% accuracy rate. At a demonstration in a subway station last Thursday, city and police officials walked through the sensor to show its accuracy. At that time Mayor Adams didn’t yet have a list of stations where the detector would be placed, and stated that in accordance with the city’s POST Act regulations for surveillance tools, the detectors won’t be deployed for another 90 days while the city looks for more vendors that can supply this technology. 

The move to introduce those detectors has been met with much criticism and pushback from residents and officials. Jerome Greco, head of the Legal Aid Society’s digital forensics unit, stated, “This administration’s headstrong reliance on technology as a panacea to further public safety is misguided, costly, and creates significant invasions of privacy.” 

In addition to privacy overreach concerns, there is a lot of skepticism on how the detectors will help crime when the issues stem from rising immigrant numbers and failed bail reform, but city officials apparently want to play with AI gadgets instead of addressing the policies that have brought us here.