NYPD Cancels $750,000 Contract With Israeli Surveillance Firm Cognyte Amid Protests

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has canceled a $750,000 contract with the Israeli company Cognyte, which specializes in intelligence and surveillance technologies. The decision followed significant criticism, particularly from supporters of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who opposed the use of controversial surveillance tech and the NYPD's ties to Israel. The controversy centered on FalcoNet, an AI-powered surveillance system designed to mimic a cell tower, capable of locating nearby phones from a vehicle, drone, or backpack. The NYPD stated the system was intended solely for combating major crime and locating missing persons. However, civil liberties groups raised concerns about privacy violations and mass surveillance. The situation also highlighted tensions between Mamdani, known for his anti-Israel stance, and NYPD Chief Jessica Tisch, an avowed Zionist. Some pro-Palestinian city officials criticized Mamdani for not fulfilling campaign promises to sever NYPD-Israel ties, which include a liaison office with Israeli police and joint training programs. Critics also pointed to Cognyte's business dealings with authoritarian regimes, including a 2023 contract for interception technology in Myanmar prior to its military coup. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has also divested from Cognyte due to human rights concerns. The lack of a competitive bidding process for the initial contract in New York further fueled criticism. Under political and media pressure, the NYPD abandoned the December procurement process and announced a new competitive bidding procedure, leaving open the possibility that Cognyte could still win the contract. The financial impact on Cognyte, which reported approximately $400 million in sales last year, is expected to be minimal.