NYC Inauguration Bans Raspberry Pi, Flipper Zero Devices (adafruit.com)
- Reference: 0180489131
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/12/31/005202/nyc-inauguration-bans-raspberry-pi-flipper-zero-devices
- Source link: https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/12/30/nyc-mayoral-inauguration-bans-raspberry-pi-and-flipper-zero-alongside-explosives/
> The January 1, 2026, NYC mayoral inauguration prohibits attendees from bringing specific brand-name devices, [2]explicitly banning Raspberry Pi single-board computers and the Flipper Zero , listed alongside weapons, explosives, and drones. Rather than restricting behaviors or capabilities like signal interference or unauthorized transmitters, the policy names two widely used educational and testing tools while allowing smartphones and laptops that are far more capable. Critics argue this device-specific ban creates confusion, encourages selective enforcement, and reflects security theater rather than a clear, capability-based public safety framework. New York has handled large-scale events more pragmatically before.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~ptorrone
[2] https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/12/30/nyc-mayoral-inauguration-bans-raspberry-pi-and-flipper-zero-alongside-explosives/
Be glad they didn’t go further (Score:2)
Be glad they didn’t generalize their ban further:
“Those Raspberry Pi’s and Flipper Zero’s have at least one thing in common: transistors. Ban *THOSE* from the events!” /s
Re: (Score:3)
Of course, they'll still let everyone to bring their smartphones so they can fill social media with selfies with the new major.
We'll just ignore the fact that they're far more advanced or dangerous than either a Raspberry Pi or a Flipper Zero are in the right hands.
"reflects security theater... (Score:1)
...rather than a clear, capability-based public safety framework"
Theater over capability?? Seems like the Mamdani era has begun!
How dare you. (Score:1)
The Trump Security Theatre is the best security theatre ever.
No other security theatre compares.
Trump Security Theatre was founded by god himself at the start of the universe. Even before the universe was a thing.
The Trump Security Theatre will always be the best.
No other theatre does treason better.
So beaglebones are okay then? (Score:2)
What about orange-pies or my old Jetson nano?
Genius Mayor, we have to choose (Score:1)
Should we spend more time on Security or on the Appearance of Security ?
Thank you, sir. Consider it done.
No such thing (Score:2)
as bad publicity
"encourages selective enforcement" (Score:2)
Police "discretion" already does that. Everywhere. All the time. At every level.
Raspberry Pi? (Score:3)
Why would anyone bring a Raspberry Pi to a mayoral inauguration? Maybe that could happen unwittingly, being embedded in some media equipment or whatnot, but someone knowingly walking around with a RPi?
Doesn't make sense that anyone would imagine this is an actual "security" problem.
Re: (Score:2)
I have a Hackberry Pi CM5 that I use as a portable computer. Much easier to haul around than a laptop.
While I probably wouldn't use it at such an event, it usually lives in my backback so I might inadvertantly bring it. Though I suspect large backpacks would be banned anyway.
Re: (Score:1)
No silly, they are obviously targeting rich people, people who don't mind paying a bit extra for better support, community and compatibility.
Marxists gonna ... Marx.
Excellent... (Score:1, Offtopic)
.. and we are not focused on Mamdani's destructive planned policies. Nor his wacko inauguration, virtually in [1]hiding. [fox5ny.com]
New York City, you are about to be changed.
[1] https://www.fox5ny.com/news/mayor-elect-zohran-mamdani-inauguration-day
Re: (Score:2)
And we're also not focused on the destructive policies of the national administration. From what I've seen of both sets of policies, I know which kind of destruction looks more fundamentally destructive. Destroy food deserts? That's a tough sell but.. ok, fine. Destroy checks and balances on the executive branch? Ummm.......
Two Guys Got Arrested... (Score:4, Interesting)
Two guys literally got arrested at Defcon because HOTEL SECURITY told police the Flipper Zero was a hacking device.
The police responded by doing a felony arrest. They were released later when it was found that...the arrest was unlawful because possession is not a felony.
But the cops...trained professionals....took the word of fucking casino rent-a-cops of what the law was.
Sure buddy (Score:2)
Banning nerds always works out in your favor.
Re: (Score:2)
Try re-watching the 1980's miniseries called "V". It's an allegory for the rise of the Nazi movement. When aliens land on Earth, they are peaceful and are seeking help, but their first move is to defame and discredit the science community who is realizing the truth about the Aliens - That they're really lizard people in disguise, and they want to steal the Earth's resources.
Admittedly, the U.S. is way past that point now - but the parallels are striking.
Stupidity or malice? (Score:3)
Hard to tell in the US these days.
Re: Stupidity or malice? (Score:3)
Both, especially when politicians are involved.
Re: (Score:2)
Hanlon's razor generally still applies to technology that the masses don't really understand. That being said, totally agree - though it seems like Mamdani's people don't really understand the social benefits of SBCs or devices like the flipper and how they might be used other than in FUD stories that propagate.
Re: Stupidity or malice? (Score:3)
What sort of innocent activities would one use a flipper or pi at an inauguration? I can't think of any which would be reasonably "required" or "necessary". Let's also keep in mind that many other probably-innocuous items such as large purses, big camera lenses, and other kinds of homemade-looking electronic devices are frequently banned from this sort of event.
Re: (Score:3)
Essentially only wireless hacking. But an Orange Pi or even a naked ESP32 could serve as well. A cell-phone has the hardware but will probably require more work on the software side. How much more, I have no idea.
Re: Stupidity or malice? (Score:4, Insightful)
Flipper IR abilities alone can allow simple IR controlled lighting changes at home, which would be reason enough to have in a pocket.
RF controls for car, garage, door, alarm system or anything RF really, makes it handy is some situations. The same contactless sort of functions a phone (RFID or NFC) or iButton interactions could be useful for security or just control.
There are also add-on modules, expanding it's abilities, like Midi sequencing for lighting displays or music needs. Simple status reporting from other equipment can also be radioed to the Flipper. It is a tool, with many communication methods and options, that can interact with many other electronic devices and systems.
A Pi is a generic computer. If you cannot notice each time one of these could be running displays in stores and other places you move past daily on the street or in stores, you must not be very attentive.
Needed for the show/event activities, or just in a bystander's pocket or purse is not a security issue on it's own, any more than a screwdriver would be.
Re: (Score:2)
What, you don't have a Pi or other MCU or two in your pockets at all times? I thought every one did.
Re: (Score:2)
> Hanlon's razor generally still applies to technology that the masses don't really understand. That being said, totally agree - though it seems like Mamdani's people don't really understand the social benefits of SBCs or devices like the flipper and how they might be used other than in FUD stories that propagate.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that one of the LED walls or something innocuous like that is driven by a Raspberry Pi.
Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
Communism embraces both.
Re: (Score:2)
Its greatest achievement!
Re: (Score:3)
It might be neither. Maybe they caught wind of someone talking about packing explosives into the case.
It's hard to tell because the author doesn't seem to have worked very hard to find out why. Yes, he tried to contact some of the incoming Mayor's staff, but he didn't contact the people responsible for security. That would be the police department and maybe Homeland Security. An actual reporter may have gotten further. No offense to him, but it doesn't look like the author does much of that.
Re: (Score:2)
Why not both? The stupidity is clear. But the malice could be pretending to do something while never checking or even caring about effectiveness, and thereby giving a false sense of security. I would call that "indifferent maliciousness".