Skip to main content

Big Brother is watching: New York to fight terrorism with a facial recognition system

Terrorists may want to think twice before they try to target New York with a weapon of mass destruction. The recently announced New York Crossings Project aims to discourage terrorism with the installation of cutting-edge facial recognition technology in bridges and tunnels across the state.

In developing this plan, New York state official decided to beef up the security at each crossing and sensitive point at the major airports, bridges, tunnels, and transportation hubs across the state. The enhanced security includes an advanced camera and sensor system designed for license plate scanning and facial recognition. The state plans to deploy the same technology at all these locations, creating a state-wide one-system plan for anti-terrorism management.

Recommended Videos

Besides cameras and sensors, the state also will assign additional anti-terrorism teams to both patrol at the crossing and to facilitate the sharing of information across government agencies. Up to 525 Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) officers, 150 State Police and 150 National Guardsmen will be involved in this reinforcement. When an emergency occurs, special barricade trucks will be available at both ends of each crossing.

The facial recognition technology is part of a larger initiative to improve New York’s bridges and tunnels. The New York Crossings Project aims to revolutionize the transportation infrastructure in New York with cutting-edge automatic tolling, and to speed up commutes, install energy efficient LED lighting, and improve protection against floods and earthquakes.

This isn’t the first time New York has dabbled with facial recognition on a wide-scale basis. The DMV also added a facial recognition feature to its licensing system that maps 128 points on a person’s face. These points are matched to photos in a database and are further being used to combat identity theft. In less than a year of operation, the system has already led to 100 arrests and to closing 900 open cases.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more