NYPD Cancels $750K Deal with Israeli Firm Cognyte Amid Privacy Concerns

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The NYPD has canceled a $750,000 no-bid contract with Israeli firm Cognyte for a phone-tracking system following criticism over privacy concerns and human rights allegations. The decision came after backlash against Mayor Eric Adams and a meeting with NYPD Chief of Department Jessica Tisch. The department will now pursue a competitive bidding process, allowing Cognyte to reapply. Human rights groups and city officials voiced strong opposition, citing fears of mass surveillance and the company's alleged use of technology to track dissidents.

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NYPD canceled a $750,000 contract with Israeli firm Cognyte for a phone-tracking system.
The deal was scrapped due to criticism over privacy and human rights concerns.
Mayor Eric Adams faced backlash for the proposed no-bid contract.
The NYPD will now conduct a competitive bidding process for the technology.
Human rights groups fear the system enables mass surveillance of citizens.

NYPD Cancels $750K Deal with Israeli Firm Cognyte Amid Privacy Concerns — איור מערכת שנוצר על ידי baba News, לא צילום של האירוע.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has withdrawn from a $750,000 no-bid contract with the Israeli company Cognyte to purchase a system for rapidly locating suspects' phones. The decision followed criticism directed at Mayor Eric Adams regarding the planned use of the company's technology, which has been accused of human rights violations. The NYPD confirmed it is reopening the procurement process to allow for competitive bids, stating the original deal did not meet the criteria for a sole-source purchase.

The contract was for Cognyte's AI-based mobile surveillance system, FalcoNet, which simulates a cell tower to connect with and track phones in its vicinity. Human rights organizations have raised concerns that such technology could be used for mass surveillance, infringing on constitutional rights, and have accused Cognyte of selling to governments, including Israel, for tracking "opponents and dissidents."

The controversy intensified after reports of the deal, which had been under negotiation since December 2025. City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America like Adams, argued against funneling funds into "mass surveillance of New Yorkers," particularly with technology used by governments to track dissidents. State Senator Julia Salazar and City Council Member Julie Won echoed these concerns, with Won expressing shock that Adams would consider the deal and linking it to past surveillance of Muslim New Yorkers after 9/11.

Cognyte, which positions itself as a competitor to Palantir, has faced scrutiny and blocks on some Meta platforms. The NYPD already uses similar systems for locating suspects and individuals at risk, but stated FalcoNet was the best available. The department maintained that the system would not be used for eavesdropping or collecting non-investigative data, and that warrants would be required for information gathering, except in emergencies where a warrant must be obtained within 48 hours.

However, the Legal Aid Society criticized the NYPD's track record with invasive surveillance technologies, citing over 1,000 instances of using cell-site simulator systems without warrants. They urged New Yorkers to oppose the purchase and called for legislative bans on government and commercial surveillance.