Welcome to the pilot of Weekly Leaks, a new recurring feature in The Purple People Leader. Each week, we’ll spotlight underreported “leaks” from public documents, data, or trends – sourced ethically via FOIA, lawsuits, or open records – to expose overlooked assumptions in political and social issues. In The Purple People Leader, we don’t chase headlines, we uncover the hidden premises driving political and social debates. No sensationalism: Just summaries, context, and tools for independent analysis. This week’s focus: A flood of NYPD surveillance contracts made public, revealing expansive tech buys amid privacy concerns. Having spent much time in NY State, this hit me! Could rural departments follow suit?
Leak #1: 2,700+ Documents Detail NYPD’s Secret Tech Contracts
Rights groups Amnesty International and the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP) secured thousands of pages through a lawsuit, exposing NYPD’s purchases of facial recognition, license plate readers, and AI-driven monitoring tools. Contracts show $100M+ spent since 2020, often without public oversight or impact assessments. Key omission: No data on error rates in diverse communities, raising bias risks.
• Source: Amnesty International report (Nov 14, 2025) Read here; JURIST coverage here.
• Fence Check: Why hidden? These were “proprietary” deals to protect vendor info, but that shielded accountability – what if errors disproportionately affect minorities? Trade-off: Tech aids crime-solving (e.g., post-2020 spikes), but erodes trust without transparency. In rural NY, similar tools could strain small budgets without local input.
Leak #2: Legal Aid Society Publishes Full SPEX Budget Breakdown
The Legal Aid Society released hundreds of redacted NYPD contracts for the Special Equipment and Procurement (SPEX) unit, detailing vendors like Clearview AI and Motorola. Highlights: Unlawful expansions into predictive policing without legislative approval, plus vague clauses on data sharing with feds.
• Source: Legal Aid NYC press release (Nov 17, 2025) Read here; Ongoing fight page here.
• Fence Check: Origins trace to post-9/11 security needs, but why bury budgets? To avoid scrutiny on civil liberties. Pro: Faster response to threats; con: Potential for overreach, as seen in Queens protests. If you’re in upstate NY, this “fence” questions if state funds (your tax dollars) enable urban tech spillover without rural safeguards.
Leak Takeaway: The Privacy-Security Premise
These disclosures challenge the assumption that surveillance is a neutral “upgrade.” Better Question: Instead of “How much tech can we afford?”, ask “What fences protect our data from abuse?” This fosters humility – extremists on both sides (pro-privacy absolutists vs. security hawks) overlook trade-offs.
What “leak” in your community raises similar flags? Comment or submit tips below. Next week: More on NY, city & rural.
– Julianna Sanjee
Editor-in-Chief, Researcher & Reporter – The Purple People Leader