NYPD Cancels $750K Deal with Israeli Tech Firm Cognyte Amid Public Pressure

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has canceled a $750,000 contract with the Israeli technology company Cognyte to purchase a smart mobile phone surveillance system. The deal, which sparked widespread public controversy over surveillance technology and Cognyte's global government ties, also placed Mayor Zahran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at the center of the debate. Cognyte's system, FalcoNet, uses artificial intelligence and mimics a cell tower to connect to nearby devices, capable of real-time location tracking from vehicles, drones, or even a backpack. The NYPD stated the system was intended solely for combating serious crime and locating missing persons. However, human rights organizations and City Council members argued that such surveillance programs would violate residents' privacy and turn public spaces into sites of mass surveillance. Critics, including pro-Palestinian City Council members, accused Mayor Mamdani of failing to uphold a campaign promise to sever ties between the NYPD and Israel, citing joint training and Israeli police representation. Mamdani had previously spoken out against these ties, stating, "When a policeman puts his knee on a citizen's neck, it is the Israeli army that ties his shoelaces." Further criticism was directed at Mamdani for retaining Commissioner Tisch, who identifies as a proud Zionist and whose wealthy family has made significant donations to U.S. administrations. The purchase also drew criticism for bypassing the standard bidding process and for Cognyte's past dealings, including a 2023 revelation about selling eavesdropping technology to Myanmar prior to its military coup. Norway's sovereign wealth fund also divested from Cognyte due to concerns about human rights violations. Following public outcry and pressure from Mamdani's supporters, the NYPD canceled the contract initiated last December. The department has since announced an open competitive bidding process, leaving the door open for Cognyte's technology. The financial impact on Cognyte, which reported approximately $400 million in sales last year, is not expected to be severe.