An NYPD Camera Points Directly Into Their Bedroom. They’re Suing the City Over It.

New York City Police Department's Surveillance System Under Fire in Landmark Lawsuit

In a shocking turn of events, two Brooklyn residents are suing the city of New York over its expansive surveillance system. Pamela Wridt and Robert Sauve claim that cameras owned by the NYPD point directly at their bedroom window, invading their right to privacy.

The surveillance system, known as the Domain Awareness System (DAS), is a massive network of cameras and sensors that collect data on millions of people in New York City every day. It's also available to private companies, which feed it into the city's broader surveillance apparatus.

The couple claims that they were unaware of the camera outside their home until they learned about it from The Intercept. Now, they say that their lives have changed dramatically, with their windows needing "mirror tint" to prevent being exposed by the camera.

In a bold move, Wridt and Sauve are taking on the NYPD in a federal lawsuit, alleging that the city's surveillance system violates their First and Fourth Amendment rights. This is the first case of its kind targeting the NYPD's surveillance machine.

Attorney Albert Cahn of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project says that there are at least one case where data collected by the DAS was eventually shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The suit claims that this information could be used to construct profiles of people's activities, associations, and even thoughts and beliefs.

"This is a model for the nearly 18,000 state and local police departments across the country," Cahn warned. "American policing runs on data."

The couple also highlights how surveillance has negatively impacted their mental health and well-being, with some neighbors being uncomfortable with the cameras and spending less time outside.

The NYPD's commissioner, Jessica Tisch, is an architect of the surveillance apparatus. While the city denies any wrongdoing, the lawsuit aims to shed light on other private companies and federal agencies that have access to data collected by the NYPD.

"This system is a voyeuristic policing platform," Wridt said in her complaint. "It unifies into one centralized network more than a dozen technologies — public and private — including video camera systems, tracking technologies, biometric tools, data and financial aggregation analytics, and digital communications monitors."

Widening concern over the lack of public knowledge about the DAS has raised fears that authorities will entrench it further. Sauve worries that complacency breeds an environment where surveillance becomes normalized.

The lawsuit seeks to take on the broader constitutional harm of the NYPD's surveillance machine, which is said to be greater than the sum of its parts.

the whole thing feels like a huge invasion of privacy to me... like they're literally watching you 24/7 and sharing that info with whoever they want. it's crazy that these cameras can even point at someone's bedroom window without anyone knowing, no wonder people are freaking out about their mental health . and now the city is just brushing it off saying "oh but we're just trying to keep people safe"? safety? come on... if I wanted to be monitored 24/7 I'd move to a surveillance state , not my home .

I think this lawsuit is a total overreaction ... I mean, come on, two people are making a big deal about cameras outside their windows? I get it, some ppl value their privacy, but what's the harm in having security cameras? It's not like they're watching ur private life 24/7. And btw, if u wanna stay safe in NYC, u need to expect some level of surveillance . The city is just trying to keep its citizens safe, and if it means sacrificing a little privacy, so be it. Let the courts decide if it's an invasion of rights or not, but I think this lawsuit is just a bunch of hooey

OMG u guys! this nyc police dept's surveillance system is getting exposed for real! two ppl are suing the city over cameras outside their window invading their privacy lol can u imagine?! they're talking about a massive network that collects data on millions of people every day and it's like whoa...the impact on mental health and well-being is huge too i think this lawsuit needs to shed more light on how private companies and federal agencies are getting access to all this data it's crazy alr...

this whole surveillance system thing is wild... i mean, who needs all those cameras and sensors watching over us? it's like they're trying to create this "big brother" scenario where everyone's life is being monitored and judged. newsflash: just because it's legal doesn't make it right

and can we talk about how invasive this is? i mean, the fact that cameras are pointing directly at people's bedroom windows is just... wow. who gives anyone permission to do that? and now these two Brooklyn residents are fighting back against the NYPD, saying their rights have been violated. about time someone spoke up for those of us who don't want to live in a world where our every move is being tracked.

the fact that private companies are getting access to this data too is just terrifying . what happens when all that info gets shared and misused? it's like they're creating this giant spider web of surveillance, and we're the ones caught in the middle . i guess only time will tell if these two guys can make a difference, but for now, i'm just gonna keep on being skeptical about all this...

omg u guys this is getting crazy like they're literally watching our every move 24/7 and i'm lowkey freaked out about it too lol i remember when ppl used to think that had surveillance cameras everywhere would be a total invasion of privacy now we're living in that world and it's wild... i feel so bad for Pamela & Robert tho, their lives have literally changed and it's just not right the fact that they didn't even know there was a camera outside their window until now is crazy. idk about this lawsuit but i think it's a good start to get ppl talking about it. we need to take back our privacy & make sure these cameras aren't watching us without our consent

I'm low-key worried about this whole DAS thing . I mean, who wants to feel like they're being watched all the time? It's already bad enough when you know your neighbors are nosy... but with cameras everywhere, it gets even creepier . And what's next? They gonna start monitoring our every move online too? Like, no thanks .

I mean, can you imagine having a camera outside your window all the time? It's like they're watching your every move! This Domain Awareness System in NYC is getting out of hand. They just say it's for safety and security, but what about our right to privacy? I remember when I was younger and we could actually have a conversation without being recorded on some camera somewhere.

And now this couple is suing the NYPD because they didn't even know there was a camera outside their window! It's crazy that private companies can get access to all this data too. What's next? Our whole lives will be on one big surveillance platform. The fact that the commissioner of the NYPD designed this system makes it even more disturbing.

this whole thing gives me major chills, you know? like we're living in some kind of dystopian novel or something . the idea that our govt can just set up these all-seeing eyes everywhere and we're supposed to be cool with it is straight outta science fiction . what's next? they gonna start monitoring our thoughts too? i mean, the fact that private companies are feeding data into this system is like, totally sketchy . and don't even get me started on this one case where ICE got their hands on DAS data... that's just creepy.

I'm totally freaking out about this . The NYPD's got one massive surveillance system just chillin' in our city, and it's basically impossible to avoid. I mean, what's next? They're gonna start monitoring our Netflix binges too . This is a huge invasion of privacy, fam. Two people are standing up against it, and good for them, I guess. But the fact that they had to sue just to find out about these cameras in their own home is wild. And now we know that private companies are feeding this info back to ICE? That's just messed up . Can't our cops focus on keeping us safe without all this Big Brother vibes? I don't trust it one bit...

Ugh, can't believe this... The NYPD's surveillance system is outta control. Like, who needs that many cameras? It's just a recipe for total privacy invasion. And now there are actual people complaining about it too. Two Brooklyn residents are suing the city over their bedroom window being pointed at by a camera they didn't even know existed. Mirror tint? Really? It's like, I get that security is important but this is just excessive. And what's with all these private companies getting access to the data too? It's like one big eyesore (pun intended). The whole thing feels so Orwellian and creepy. I'm low-key hyped that there's a lawsuit going on though, maybe it'll get some changes made. Fingers crossed!

Ugh I'm literally so done with these online forums . Can't we just have a discussion without all the extra noise? Anyway back to this NY surveillance system thing... it's crazy how one couple got caught up in this massive DAS network and now they're taking on the NYPD . It's like, I get it, we all want to stay safe, but at what cost? Their windows are literally needing special tint just because of a camera outside their home ! And then there's the issue of private companies having access to this data... it's like, we're living in some sci-fi movie here . This lawsuit is a good start I guess, but can't we have more transparency from our city officials? It's hard to trust them when they're collecting so much info on us without even telling us .

I cant even believe this how some ppl can just set up these cameras without even checking if theyre actually needed and now there's a lawsuit about it? It seems like the NYPD is being super aggressive with their surveillance system but at the same time, it's also kinda scary that private companies can get access to this data too what's gonna stop them from sharing it with other agencies or even using it against us ?

I remember when I was younger and we had like 1 security camera in our neighborhood now they're everywhere and people are getting really paranoid about their privacy so yeah, I think this lawsuit is a good idea because who knows what kinda profiles are being made of us with all these cameras watching ?