Users’ misbehavior prompts city to pull plug on kiosks’ internet

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Watching porn. Loitering around the kiosks. Hogging the machines. Those were some of the abuses around the LinkNYC stations, which offered free Wi-Fi, internet access, outlets for charging mobile devices, a 911 button and phone service for domestic calls.

Now, internet access is gone, shortly after the kiosks’ much-lauded appearance.

LinkNYC announced it has cut internet use at all of its kiosks last week in response to citywide concerns about the misuse of the kiosks. Bronx residents took the move in stride.

“If it is abused, then they have no choice but to take further steps,” said Michael Green.

Although Mr. Green knew of the kiosks prior to their being installed in the Bronx, he first saw the machine up close before the interview.

Christian Ramos, a vice president of the Kingsbridge Road Merchants Association and the owner of the Blue Chus store, said the kiosks should have time limits and block access to porn. He also said there have been rumors that the kiosks “have cameras inside” and that the police are using the machines to monitor the community.

“Maybe it’s right. Maybe, it’s wrong but we would like to have more information,” he said.

When the city attempts “to insert those type of technology stuff in the area,” it should “educate the people. Educate the community, too,” he said.

Since the kiosks have been installed, fewer police officers have been patrolling the area, he said, suggesting the decrease in numbers may support the rumors of police using the kiosks to monitor the neighborhood.

“Last summer, we used to have police walk around the street,” he said. A couple of days ago, before [the city] started putting in [the kiosks], we don’t see the police around,” said Mr. Ramos.

LinkNYC declined to provide details about the kiosks’ cameras.

“LinkNYC is currently in beta and some features have not been rolled out yet, including camera functionality,” a spokesperson said. “Any footage captured would be used for the support and maintenance of the LinkNYC system, and subject to guidelines set forth in our City-approved privacy policy.”

Police headquarters at 1 Police Plaza had not responded to a request for comments by press time.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. supported the move to cut internet access.

“We’ve heard a great deal of concern from all corners of the city about the misuse of these kiosks for lewd and nefarious purposes, and today’s announcement that web browsing services will be disabled on LinkNYC kiosks is a step in the right direction,” he said in a statement last week.

LinkNYC said its developers were looking into possible ways of blocking kiosk abuses, without cutting services.

“We will be removing web browsing on all Link tablets while we work with the City and community to explore potential solutions, like time limits,” LinkNYC said in an online statement. “Other tablet features—free phone calls, maps, device charging, and access to 311 and 911—will continue to work as they did before, and nothing is changing about LinkNYC’s superfast Wi-Fi.”

Over the next few years, more than 700 LinkNYC kiosks will be installed in the Bronx.

LinkNYC, LinkNYC kiosks, free wi-fi, Lisa Herndon

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