The NYPD under Mayor Zohran Mamdani will sign a $750,500 3-year no-bid contract with Israeli surveillance firm Cognyte. The contract will provide NYPD with an AI-powered cell-site simulator known as FalcoNet. It can create fake cell towers to track mobile devices. It can be attached to police cars, drones or even hidden in a backpack.
About Cognyte
Myanmar
Won a contract to sell Interception Spyware to state telecoms a matter of weeks before the Military coup in 2021.
Meta
Banned from Meta in 2021 due to clients using fake accounts to target journalists and politicians in Kenya, Mexico and Indonesia.
Military
Part of the Israeli surveillance industry, based around intelligence gathering and targeting Palestinians with Unit 8200.
This news has raised concerns about surveillance in the city and who they are contracting. Below is a summary of the contract.
NYPD Contract
Contract With: Cognyte (Israeli Surveillance Firm)
Value: $750,500
Length: 3 Years
No Bid Contract
Source: New York Daily NewsFalcoNet
This advanced piece of technology can be used to track mobile devices using a Cell Site Simulator. It can create fake cellular towers.
It uses AI to help track mobile phones. It can be used in the following ways;
Attached to Police Patrol Cars.
Attached to Drones.
Hidden inside Backpacks.
This helps them track mobile devices easily.
About Cognyte
Cognyte are part of the Israeli surveillance industry and have had many issues worldwide.
History
1) Myanmar Interception Spyware – In 2021 Cognyte won a tender to supply interception spyware to Myanmar’s state telecom provider. This was only weeks before the 2021 military coup (Reuters).
2) Meta – Cognyte were banned from Meta in 2021 due to it being found out that their clients were using fake accounts to target journalists/politicians in Kenya, Mexico and Indonesia.
3) Defence/Intelligence – Cognyte are part of an Israeli business surveillance industry that started with their military surveillance. Israel’s Unit 8200 have intercepted millions of Palestinian phone calls. This has been used to enforce their occupation in Jerusalem and the West Bank and also in Gaza.
Reaction
The fact they are looking to sign this contract under Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has caused some reaction.
The Mayor is heavily involved in the contract as they are in charge of the city. Many people on social media have commented asking them to stop the contract.
Key Data
Data Point / Description
Purchasing Organisation: New York City Police Department (NYPD)
City Leader: Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Company: Cognyte
Product: FalcoNet
Type: AI Cell Site Simulator / Mobile Phone Tracker
Can be used on: police cars, drones and backpacks.
Cost: $750,500
Length: 3 Years
No Bid
Source: New York Daily News
