NEW YORK — A recent pilot initiative implemented to assess AI-driven weapons scanners at select subway stations in New York City revealed that the technology failed to identify any individuals carrying firearms but generated over 100 false alerts, as indicated by new data from the police.
During the course of nearly 3,000 scans, law enforcement reported 118 false positives along with the detection of 12 knives. However, police did not clarify whether these knives were illegal or permissible tools such as pocket knives that are allowed in the subway system.
Mayor Eric Adams, a supporter of technological advancements, previously announced the trial of portable scanners from the company Evolv, aiming to enhance safety and deter violence in the subway environment this summer.
This initiative met with skepticism from numerous subway passengers and civil rights organizations, who expressed concerns regarding the practicality and constitutionality of scanning millions of commuters entering through numerous access points daily. Although violent incidents are infrequent in the subway system, this announcement followed two notable shooting events that heightened public concern.
After several months of promises from Adams to disclose the pilot’s findings, the New York Police Department revealed on Wednesday that they conducted 2,749 scans at 20 subway stations over a 30-day duration. Overall, 118 false alerts were reported, translating to a 4.29% false positive rate.
The police statement did not provide details regarding the duration of each scan, the number of officers needed to operate the scanners, or how many passengers opted out of the searches. Inquiries directed to Evolv went unanswered.
A police spokesperson mentioned earlier in the month that the department was still assessing the pilot program’s outcomes and had yet to finalize any contracts with Evolv.
Adams has been an advocate for the Massachusetts-based company since his inauguration in 2022. Before the scanners were trialed in the subway, they were utilized in a municipal hospital, and the mayor has mentioned their possible future use in public schools.
Evolv has encountered its own share of legal challenges in recent years, including federal investigations into its marketing tactics by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In a recent development, investors launched a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging that executives misrepresented the effectiveness of their devices, claiming that “Evolv does not reliably detect knives or guns.”
On Thursday, the Legal Aid Society issued a statement declaring the pilot program to be “objectively a failure, regardless of how City Hall may attempt to interpret this data.”
The organization added, “In light of this unsuccessful pilot, along with the substantial evidence against the deployment of Evolv’s weapon detection systems, and the accompanying controversies like lawsuits and investigations, we hope this misguided and unwarranted initiative will be thoroughly abandoned.”
