The New York City Department of Investigation has launched an investigation into allegations that the city’s police department improperly used its official social media accounts to target public officials and private citizens. This investigation was prompted by requests from City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Legal Aid Society to look into the NYPD’s social media policies and practices. Reports from The Associated Press and others have highlighted how the department and some of its top officials have adopted a more aggressive online presence, using their accounts on the X platform to take on critics. In one post, Chief of Patrol John Chell criticized a Democratic city councilmember and falsely accused a judge in a criminal case, leading to concerns about the department’s social media tactics.
City Council Speaker Adams stated that the recent deployment of official NYPD social media accounts to aggressively target public officials and civilians is dangerous, unethical, and unprofessional. The Legal Aid Society also backed Adams’ request and accused the police department of using social media unprofessionally and unethically to discredit pro-Palestinian protesters at local colleges. They highlighted posts from Chell and NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry after the department cleared campus encampments, where they falsely claimed that items found at Columbia University indicated nefarious intentions. The DOI has begun an investigation into the relevant social media use and exchanges, as well as applicable City policies in response to these requests.
The Legal Aid Society had also requested a probe into the general police response to the protests at universities, but the Department of Investigation declined to comment on that request. In February, the NYPD’s top spokesperson defended the department’s social media tactics, stating that they want to push back on misinformation that could damage the reputation of their officers and the work they are doing. The use of social media by law enforcement agencies has come under scrutiny in recent years, with concerns about the dissemination of inaccurate information, targeting of individuals, and potential impacts on public safety and trust in police departments. The DOI’s investigation will shed light on whether the NYPD’s social media practices are in line with ethical and professional standards.
The allegations against the NYPD raise questions about the appropriate use of social media by law enforcement agencies and the potential consequences of targeting individuals and public officials online. The aggressive online presence of certain NYPD officials has led to concerns about the dissemination of inaccurate information, incitement of threats and violence, and unethical behavior. City Council Speaker Adams and the Legal Aid Society have called for an investigation into the department’s social media policies and practices, citing examples of misleading posts and attacks on critics. The DOI’s probe will examine the NYPD’s social media use and exchanges to determine if they comply with applicable city policies and standards.
The NYPD’s defense of their social media tactics as a means to combat misinformation and protect their officers’ reputations highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in navigating the digital landscape. However, the potential impacts of using official social media accounts to target individuals and public officials raise concerns about the misuse of these platforms by those in positions of authority. The outcome of the DOI’s investigation will be crucial in determining the accountability and transparency of the NYPD’s social media practices, as well as ensuring the protection of civil liberties and public trust in law enforcement.
