View full title
Establishes the "protect our privacy (POP) act" to impose limitations on the use of drones for law enforcement purposes; prohibits the use of drones by law enforcement at concerts, protests, demonstrations, or other actions protected by the first amendment.
In one paragraph
New York's A 972, the "protect our privacy (POP) act," would add Civil Rights Law § 52-e: law enforcement data from drones equipped with facial recognition software, or from facial recognition run on drone video or images, including private drones, could not be used in ongoing investigations or prosecutions and would have to be promptly deleted, retroactively. It would also generally bar police drone use except for search and rescue and post-disaster inspection, bar drones at protests and armed drones, and allow suits for the greater of $1,000 per violation or actual damages. Referred to Governmental Operations January 7, 2026; it has not passed either chamber.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None yet: the bill is pending. No direct duties for businesses: police could not obtain drone information from private companies, and facial-recognition drone data held for law enforcement would have to be deleted.
Key provisions
- Applies retroactively to law enforcement data from drones equipped with facial recognition software or using facial recognition on drone video or images, including drones owned by private companies, individuals or other agencies: it may not be used in ongoing investigations or prosecutions and "shall be promptly deleted"
- Law enforcement agencies and employees may not use drones or seek warrants for drone use, or contract with private parties to obtain drone information; exceptions only for search and rescue and examining dangerous areas after natural disasters
- No drone use for documentation, recording, investigation or data collection at concerts, protests, demonstrations or other First Amendment-protected actions; no possession or use of an armed drone
- Drone data not part of an ongoing case must be destroyed in one year or less absent a subpoena or court order; data subject to FOIL with personal identifying information redacted
- Evidence obtained in violation is suppressed; individuals may sue the government entity for the greater of $1,000 per violation or actual damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorneys' fees
- Would take effect immediately
Latest legislative action
Jan 7, 2026. referred to governmental operations
Sponsors (showing 5 of 24)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| BRONSON | Primary |
| CUSICK | Primary |
| Robert C. Carroll D | Primary |
| Ron Kim D | Primary |
| ROSENTHAL L | Primary |
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error