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'''LinkNYC''' is a program to distribute the Internet to more in New York City. The first kiosks, or "Links," started in late 2015. The initial plan, supported by the CityBridge, intended to install 7,000 kiosks across the city.
'''LinkNYC''' is the [[New York City]] branch of an international infrastructure project to create a network covering several cities with free [[Wi-Fi]] service. The office of [[Mayor of New York City|New York City Mayor]] [[Bill de Blasio]] announced the plan on November 17, 2014, and the installation of the first kiosks, or "Links," started in late 2015. The Links replace the city's network of 9,000 to 13,000 [[payphone]]s, a contract for which expired in October 2014. The LinkNYC kiosks were devised after the [[government of New York City]] held several competitions to replace the payphone system. The most recent competition, in 2014, resulted in the contract being awarded to the CityBridge consortium, which comprises [[Qualcomm]]; [[Titan (transit advertising company)|Titan]] and [[Control Group]], which now make up [[Intersection (company)|Intersection]]; and [[Comark]].


CityBridge deployed 1,800 LinkNYC units, most in Manhattan and few in other boroughs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-27 |title=Big Tech Pays to Supersize LinkNYC and Revive Broken Promise to Bridge Digital Divide |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/4/27/23045122/link5g-free-wifi-tech-linknyc |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The City |language=en}}</ref> Google became a major investor, through Sidewalk Labs. Ad sales were difficult and the company defaulted on $70 million owed to the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-30 |title=DiNapoli Examines Faltering LinkNYC Program |url=https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2021/07/dinapoli-examines-faltering-linknyc-program |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=Office of the New York State Comptroller |language=en-US}}</ref>
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All of the {{convert|9.5|ft|m|-tall|adj=mid}} Links feature two {{convert|55|in|cm|adj=on}} [[High-definition television|high-definition]] displays on their sides; [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[tablet computer]]s for accessing city maps, directions, and services, and making video calls; two free [[USB]] [[Battery charger|charging stations]] for [[smartphone]]s; and a phone allowing free calls to all [[U.S. state|50 states]] and [[Washington, D.C.]] The Links also provide the ability to use [[Telephone card|calling cards]] to make international calls, and each Link has one button to call [[9-1-1]] directly.


Management of CityBridge was assumed by ZenFi, an established infrastructure builder investing $200 million, and Intersection, an advertising organization.
The project brings free, encrypted, [[gigabit]] wireless internet coverage to the [[Borough (New York City)|five boroughs]] by converting old payphones into [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|Wi-Fi hotspot]]s where free phone calls could also be made. {{As of|July 2017}}, there are 920 Links citywide; eventually, there will be 7,500 Links installed in the [[New York metropolitan area]], making the system the world's fastest and most expansive. Intersection has also installed InLinks in cities across the UK. The Links are seen as a model for future city builds as part of [[smart city]] data pools and infrastructure.


It has installed the first of the new, 32 foot kiosks with provisions for 5G small cells from up to 4 companies. "Dozens will deploy before the end of 2022 and 2,000 by 2026<ref>{{Cite web |title=LinkNYC 5G kiosks offer better Wi-Fi in underserved communities |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/linknyc-5g-kiosks-offer-better-wi-fi-in-underserved-communities/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Since the Links' deployment, there have been several concerns about the kiosks' features. Privacy advocates have stated that the [[Personally identifiable information|data]] of LinkNYC users can be collected and used to track users' movements throughout the city. There are also concerns with cybercriminals possibly hijacking the Links, or [[Spoofing attack|renaming their personal wireless networks]] to the same name as LinkNYC's network, in order to steal LinkNYC users' data. In addition, prior to September 2016, the tablets of the Links could be used to browse the Internet. In summer 2016, concerns arose about the Link tablets' [[Web browser|browsers]] being used for illicit purposes; despite the implementation of [[Content-control software|content filters]] on the kiosks, the illicit activities continued, and the browsers were disabled.


⚫
The earlier {{convert|9.5|ft|m|-tall|adj=mid}} Links feature two {{convert|55|in|cm|adj=on}} [[High-definition television|high-definition]] displays on their sides; [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[tablet computer]]s for accessing city maps, directions, and services, and making video calls; two free [[USB]] [[Battery charger|charging stations]] for [[smartphone]]s; and a phone allowing free calls to all [[U.S. state|50 states]] and [[Washington, D.C.]] The Links also provide the ability to use [[Telephone card|calling cards]] to make international calls, and each Link has one button to call [[9-1-1]] directly.[[File:3rd_Av_LinkNYC_keyboard_jeh.JPG|thumb|Tablet with keypad, 9-1-1 button, and headphone jack|left]]
== History ==

===Payphones and plans for reuse===
[[File:Myrtle-Willoughby G sta Marcy Av park jeh.jpg|thumb|left|One of New York City's 9,000 to 13,000 dated payphones at the [[Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues (IND Crosstown Line)|Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues]] [[New York City Subway|subway]] station]]
In 1999, thirteen companies signed a contract that legally obligated them to maintain New York City's payphones for fifteen years.<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012" /> In 2000, the city's tens of thousands of payphones were among the 2.2 million payphones spread across the United States.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/> Since then, these payphones' use had been declining with the advent of [[Mobile phone|cellphones]].<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012" /> {{As of|July 2012}}, there were 13,000 phones in over 10,000 individual locations;<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012" /> that number had dropped to 9,133 phones in 7,302 locations by April 2014,<ref name="NYTimes-21stCenturyCalling-WiFi-2014">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/nyregion/the-21st-century-is-calling-with-wi-fi-hot-spots.html |title=The 21st Century Is Calling, With Wi-Fi Hot Spots |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=April 30, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> at a time when the number of payphones in the United States had declined more than 75 percent, to 500,000.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/> The contract with the thirteen payphone operators was set to expire in October 2014, after which time the payphones' futures were unknown.<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012" /><ref name="NYTimes-21stCenturyCalling-WiFi-2014" />

In July 2012, the New York City government released a public [[request for information]], asking for comments about the future uses for these payphones.<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/downloads/pdf/payphone_rfi.pdf |title=Request for Information Regarding the Future of Public Pay Telephones on New York City Sidewalks and Potential Alternative or Additional Forms of Telecommunications Facilities on New York City Sidewalks |date=July 11, 2012 |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803231327/http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/downloads/pdf/payphone_rfi.pdf|archive-date=August 3, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> The RFI presented questions such as "What alternative communications amenities would fill a need?"; "If retained, should the current designs of sidewalk payphone enclosures be substantially revised?"; and "Should the current number of payphones on City sidewalks change, and if so, how?".<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012"/> Through the RFI, the New York City government sought new uses for the payphones, including a combination of "public wireless hotspots, touch-screen wayfinding panels, information kiosks, charging stations for mobile communications devices, [and] electronic community bulletin boards,"<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012" /> all of which eventually became the features of the kiosks that were included in the LinkNYC proposal.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014" /><ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162" />

In 2013, a year before the payphone contract was set to expire, there was a competition that sought ideas to further repurpose the network of payphones.<ref name="HuffingtonPost-PayPhonesWiFiTreatment-2012" /> The competition, held by the administration of [[Michael Bloomberg]], expanded the idea of the pilot project.<ref name="HuffingtonPost-PayPhonesWiFiTreatment-2012" /> There were 125 responses that suggested a Wi-Fi network, but none of these responses elaborated on how that would be accomplished.<ref name="WNYC-GoodbyePayPhones-20162">{{cite news |url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/goodbye-pay-phones-hello-linknyc/ |title=Goodbye Pay Phones, Hello LinkNYC |date=January 5, 2016 |work=[[WNYC]] |last1=Gould |first1=Jessica |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name="HuffPo-LinkNYC-WinningBi-20142">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/08/nyc-payphone-free-wi-fi_n_5291054.html |title=New York City Seriously Wants To Turn Pay Phones Into WiFi Hotspots |date=May 8, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tyler |access-date=November 17, 2014}}</ref>

=== Previous free Wi-Fi projects ===
In 2012, the [[government of New York City]] installed [[Wi-Fi]] [[Wireless router|routers]] at 10 [[payphone]]s in the city (seven in [[Manhattan]], two in [[Brooklyn]], and one in [[Queens]]<ref name="Thirteen-PayphoneUpgrade-2012" />) as part of a [[Pilot experiment|pilot project]]. The Wi-Fi was free of charge and available for use [[24/7 service|at all times]].<ref name="HuffingtonPost-PayPhonesWiFiTreatment-2012">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/12/pay-phones-wifi-nyc-wifi-pilot-program_n_1667566.html |title=Pay Phones Getting The WiFi Treatment |last=Abuelgasim |first=Fay |date=July 15, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715074855/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/12/pay-phones-wifi-nyc-wifi-pilot-program_n_1667566.html |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Thirteen-PayphoneUpgrade-2012" /> The Wi-Fi signal was detectable from a radius of a few hundred feet (about 100m). Two of New York City's largest advertising companies—Van Wagner and [[Titan (transit advertising company)|Titan]], who collectively owned more than 9,000 of New York City's 12,000 payphones at the time—paid $2,000 per router,<ref name="HuffingtonPost-PayPhonesWiFiTreatment-2012" /> with no monetary input from either the city or taxpayers.<ref name="Thirteen-PayphoneUpgrade-2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2012/07/payphones-get-an-upgrade-with-citys-free-wifi-pilot/ |title=Payphones Get an Upgrade with City's Free WiFi Pilot |date=July 17, 2012 |website=MetroFocus |publisher=[[WNET]] |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> While the payphones participating in the Wi-Fi pilot project were poorly marked, the Wi-Fi offered at these payphones was significantly faster than some of the other free public Wi-Fi networks offered elsewhere.<ref name="Thirteen-PayphoneUpgrade-2012" />

The Manhattan neighborhood of [[Harlem]] received free Wi-Fi starting in late 2013.<ref name="NYCGov-AnnouncingLargestContinuousFreeWifi-2013" /> Routers were installed in three phases within a 95-[[City block|block]] area between [[110th Street (Manhattan)|110th Street]], [[Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)|Frederick Douglass Boulevard]], [[138th Street (Manhattan)|138th Street]], and [[Madison Avenue]]. Phase 1, from 110th to 120th Streets, finished in 2013; Phase 2, from 121st to 126th Street, was expected to be complete in February 2014; and Phase 3, the remaining area, was supposed to be finished by May 2014.<ref name="NYCGov-AnnouncingLargestContinuousFreeWifi-2013">{{cite web |url=http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/394-13/mayor-bloomberg-country-s-largest-continuous-free-public-wifi-network |title=Announcing the country's largest continuous free public WiFi network |date=December 10, 2013 |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]] |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> The network was estimated to serve 80,000 Harlemites, including 13,000 in [[Public housing|public housing projects]]<ref name="NYCGov-AnnouncingLargestContinuousFreeWifi-2013" /> who may have otherwise not had [[broadband]] [[internet access]] at home.<ref name="Gizmodo-HarlemGettingBiggestWifiNetwork-20132">{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/harlem-is-getting-the-biggest-free-public-wi-fi-network-1480578666 |title=Harlem Is Getting the Biggest Free Public Wi-Fi Network In the U.S. |last=Horn |first=Leslie |date=December 10, 2013 |website=Gizmodo |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Comptroller-InequalityUpdate-2015"/> At the time, it was dubbed the United States' most expansive "continuous free public Wi-Fi network."<ref name="NYCGov-AnnouncingLargestContinuousFreeWifi-2013" />

===Bids===
[[File:LinkNYC_overview.pdf|thumb|upright=1.2|Historical overview of entities involved in LinkNYC project]]
On April 30, 2014, the [[New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications]] (DOITT) requested proposals for how to convert the city's over 7,000 payphones into a citywide Wi-Fi network.<ref name="WNYC-GoodbyePayPhones-20162" /><ref name="HuffPo-LinkNYC-WinningBi-20142" /> A new competition was held, with the winner standing to receive a 12-year contract to maintain up to 10,000 communication points.<ref name="WNYC-GoodbyePayPhones-20162" /><ref name="HuffPo-LinkNYC-WinningBi-20142" /><ref name="WashingtonPost-PayphoneOfTheFuture-2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/11/17/new-york-city-unveils-the-payphone-of-the-future-and-it-does-a-whole-lot-more-than-make-phone-calls/ |title=New York City unveils the pay phone of the future—and it does a whole lot more than make phone calls |date=November 17, 2014 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> The communication points would tentatively have free Wi-Fi service, advertising, and free calls to at least [[9-1-1]] (the emergency service) or [[3-1-1]] (the city information hotline).<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="NYTimes-21stCenturyCalling-WiFi-2014" /> The contract would require the operator, or the operating consortium, to pay "$17.5 million or 50 percent of gross revenues, whichever is greater" to the City of New York every year. The communication points could be up to {{Height|ft=10|in=3}} tall, compared to the {{Height|ft=7|in=6}} height of the phone booths; however, the advertising space on these points would only be allowed to accommodate up to {{Convert|21.3|ft2|m2}} of advertisements, or roughly half the maximum of {{Convert|41.6|ft2|m2}} of the advertising space allowed on existing phone booths.<ref name="NYTimes-21stCenturyCalling-WiFi-2014" /> There would still need to be phone service at these Links because the payphones are still used often: collectively, all of New York City's nearly 12,000 payphones were used 27 million times in 2011, amounting to each phone being used about 6 times per day.<ref name="NYCGov-WiFiRFI-2012" />

In November 2014, the bid was awarded to the consortium CityBridge, which consists of [[Qualcomm]], Titan, [[Control Group]], and [[Comark]].<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014" /><ref name="WashingtonPost-PayphoneOfTheFuture-2014"/><ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142">{{cite news |url=http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/923-14/de-blasio-administration-winner-competition-replace-payphones-five-borough |title=De Blasio Administration Announces Winner of Competition to Replace Payphones with Five-Borough Wi-Fi Network |date=November 17, 2014 |work=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]] |access-date=November 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name="CityBridge-MediaKit-20142">{{cite news |url=http://www.link.nyc/assets/downloads/LinkNYC-Fact-Sheet.pdf |title=Gigabit Wi-Fi And that's just the beginning |date=November 17, 2014 |work=CityBridge |access-date=November 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152">{{cite web |url=http://www.lightreading.com/gigabit/gigabit-cities/whos-feeding-fiber-to-linknyc-hotspots/d/d-id/716641 |title=Who's Feeding Fiber to LinkNYC Hotspots? |last=Silly |first=Mari |date=June 25, 2015 |website=Light Reading |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> In June 2015, Control Group and Titan announced that they would merge into one company called [[Intersection (company)|Intersection]]. Intersection is being led by a [[Sidewalk Labs]]-led group of investors who operate the company as a subsidiary of [[Alphabet Inc.]] that focuses on solving problems unique to urban environments.<ref name="Observer-SidewalkLabs-20152">{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2015/06/google-sidewalk-labs-larry-page-dan-doctoroff/ |title=Seven Urban Technologies Google-Backed Sidewalk Labs Might Advance |date=June 16, 2015 |work=[[The New York Observer|New York Observer]] |language=en-US |last1=Dale |first1=Brady |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Control Group and Titan Merge to form Intersection |date=June 23, 2015 |url=http://www.intersection.com/assets/downloads/Press-Release.pdf |access-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627013626/http://www.intersection.com/assets/downloads/Press-Release.pdf|archive-date=June 27, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/23/8834863/google-sidewalk-labs-linknyc-free-wifi |title=Google's Sidewalk Labs is taking over the plan to blanket NYC with free Wi-Fi |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=June 24, 2015}}</ref> [[Daniel L. Doctoroff]], the former CEO of [[Bloomberg L.P.]] and former New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding, is the CEO of Sidewalk Labs.<ref name="FT-FirstKiosks-20162">{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b86ecb52-b343-11e5-b147-e5e5bba42e51.html#axzz3yJaI3H46 |title=First WiFi kiosks set to land on New York's streets |date=January 5, 2016 |work=[[Financial Times]] |last1=Crow |first1=David |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref>

=== Installation ===
[[File:EHB 1773 (25539831295).jpg|thumb|left|Link installation]]

CityBridge announced that it would be setting up about 7,000 kiosks, called "Links," near where guests could use the LinkNYC Wi-Fi. Coverage was set to be up by late 2015, starting with about 500 Links in areas that already have payphones, and later to other areas.<ref name="Gizmodo-LinkNYC-WinningBid-20142">{{cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/the-plan-to-turn-old-payphones-into-free-gigabit-wi-fi-1659688867 |title=The Plan to Turn NYC's Old Payphones Into Free Gigabit Wi-Fi Hot Spots |date=November 17, 2014 |work=[[Gizmodo]] |last1=Aguilar |first1=Mario |access-date=November 17, 2014}}</ref> These Links were to be placed online by the end of the year.<ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /> The project would require the installation of {{Convert|400|mi}} of new communication cables.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/what-it-means-consumers-and-brands-new-york-becoming-smart-city-169643 |title=What It Means for Consumers and Brands That New York Is Becoming a 'Smart City' |last=Stilson |first=Janet |date=February 15, 2016 |website=AdWeek |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> The Links would be built in coordination with [[borough president]]s, [[business improvement district]]s, the [[New York City Council]], and New York City [[Community boards of New York City|community boards]].<ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /> The project is expected to create up to 800 jobs, including 100 to 150 full-time jobs at CityBridge as well as 650 [[technical support]] positions.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /> Of the LinkNYC plans, New York City Mayor [[Bill de Blasio]] said,

{{blockquote|With this proposal for the fastest and largest municipal Wi-Fi network in the world – accessible to and free for all New Yorkers and visitors alike – we're taking a critical step toward a more equal, open and connected city – for every New Yorker, in every borough.<ref name=NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142/>}}

On December 10, 2014, the network was approved by New York City's Franchise and Concession Review Committee.<ref name="DoITT-LinkNYCFranchises-20142">{{cite web |url=http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doitt/business/linknyc-franchises.page |title=DoITT - LinkNYC Franchises |date=December 10, 2014 |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]]|publisher=[[New York City Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications]] (DOITT) |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> Installation of two stations on [[Third Avenue]]—at 15th and 17th Streets<ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-york-start-replacing-payphone-wi-fi-kiosks-article-1.2485429 |title=New York to start replacing payphones with Wi-Fi kiosks |date=January 5, 2016 |work=[[New York Daily News]] |last1=Alba |first1=Alejandro |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref>—began on December 28, 2015,<ref name="TheVerge-NYFinallyGettingWiFi-20152">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/28/10674634/linknyc-new-york-public-wifi-installation-photos-gigabit |title=New York is finally installing its promised public gigabit Wi-Fi |date=December 28, 2015 |website=[[The Verge]] |last1=Brandom |first1=Russell |access-date=December 29, 2015}}</ref> followed by other Links on Third Avenue below 58th Street,<ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162">{{cite news |url=https://www.6sqft.com/nycs-first-two-linknyc-wi-fi-kiosks-unveiled-today/ |title=The City's First Wi-Fi Kiosks Unveiled Today! |date=January 5, 2016 |work=6sqft.com |last1=Crow |first1=David |access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162">{{cite web |url=http://gothamist.com/2016/01/05/linknyc_wifi_2_fast_2_furious.php |title=Brace For The "Fastest Internet You've Ever Used" At These Free Sidewalk Kiosks |last=Robbins |first=Christopher |date=January 5, 2016 |website=[[Gothamist]] |access-date=September 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001055640/http://gothamist.com/2016/01/05/linknyc_wifi_2_fast_2_furious.php |archive-date=October 1, 2016 }}</ref> as well as on [[Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)|Eighth Avenue]].<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> After some delays, the first Links went online in January 2016.<ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162">{{cite news |url=http://www.psfk.com/2016/01/linknyc-public-internet-access-nyc.html/ |title=The first wave of high-speed public internet access via LinkNYC kiosks has arrived |date=January 19, 2016 |work=psfk.com |last1=Kleiman |first1=Rob |access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /><ref name="TheVerge-NYPublicWiFiConnected-20162">{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/19/10789468/new-york-public-wi-fi-linknyc-connected |title=New York's first public Wi-Fi hubs are now live |date=January 19, 2016 |work=[[The Verge]] |last1=Brandom |first1=Russell |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> The public network was announced in February 2016.<ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162">{{cite web |url=http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/184-16/mayor-de-blasio-public-launch-linknyc-program-largest-fastest-free-municipal |title=Mayor de Blasio Announces Public Launch of LinkNYC Program |date=February 18, 2016 |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]]|access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> Locations like [[St. George, Staten Island|St. George]], [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]], [[South Bronx]], and [[Flatbush Avenue]] were prioritized for LinkNYC kiosk installations, with these places receiving Links by the end of 2016.<ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> By mid-July 2016, the planned roll-out of 500 hubs throughout New York City was to occur,<ref name="TheVerge-NYPublicWiFiConnected-20162" /> though the actual installation proceeded at a slower rate.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/nyregion/internet-browsers-to-be-disabled-on-new-yorks-free-wi-fi-kiosks.html |title=Free Wi-Fi Was to Aid New Yorkers. An Unsavory Side Spurs a Retreat. |last=Mcgeehan |first=Patrick |date=September 14, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331|access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> {{As of|September 2016}}, there were 400 hubs in three boroughs<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /> (most of which were in Manhattan along lower [[Second Avenue (Manhattan)|Second Avenue]], Third Avenue, Eighth Avenue, upper [[Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)|Amsterdam Avenue]], [[Lafayette Street]], parts of [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]], and the [[Bowery]];<ref name="LinkNYC-FindALink-Sep2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.link.nyc/find-a-link.html |title=Find a Link |website=CityBridge / LinkNYC |publisher=Intersection|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917040842/https://www.link.nyc/find-a-link.html|archive-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead <!--actually no, but this forces the relevant archive link to appear-->|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> at least 25 along [[Grand Concourse (Bronx)|Grand Concourse]] and in [[Fordham, Bronx|Fordham]] in [[the Bronx]];<ref name="LinkNYC-FindALink-Sep2016" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-WiFiKiosksBronx-20162" /> and some along [[Queens Boulevard]] and [[Jamaica Avenue]] in Queens<ref name="LinkNYC-FindALink-Sep2016" />). In November 2016, the first two Links were installed in Brooklyn, along [[Fulton Street (Brooklyn)|Fulton Street]] in the [[Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn|Bedford–Stuyvesant]] neighborhood, with plans to install nine more Links in various places around Brooklyn before year's end, especially around [[Prospect Park (Brooklyn)|Prospect Park]] and [[LIU Brooklyn]].<ref name="Engadget-WifiBrooklyn-Nov2016">{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/14/linknyc-internet-in-brooklyn/|title=New York City's free gigabit WiFi comes to Brooklyn|last=Fingas|first=Jon|date=November 14, 2016|website=Engadget|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref> Around this time, Staten Island also received its first Links, which were installed in [[New Dorp, Staten Island|New Dorp]].<ref name=Engadget-WifiBrooklyn-Nov2016/> The Links were being installed at an average pace of ten per day throughout the boroughs<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> with a projected goal of 500 hubs by the end of 2016.<ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /> {{As of|July 2017|alt=By July 2017}}, there were 920 Links installed across the city.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/7/31/linknyc-kiosks-not-hit-everyone|title=LinkNYC kiosks not a hit with everyone|last=Frost|first=Mary|date=July 31, 2017|website=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=2017-08-09}}</ref> This number had increased to 1,250 by January 2018,<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/nyregion/what-are-those-tall-kiosks-that-have-replaced-pay-phones-in-new-york.html|title=What are those tall kiosks that have replaced pay phones in New York?|last=Williams|first=Keith|date=2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-04|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and to 1,600 by September 2018.<ref name="Wiggers 2018">{{cite web | last=Wiggers | first=Kyle | title=LinkNYC's 5 million users make 500,000 phone calls each month | website=VentureBeat | date=September 29, 2018 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/09/29/linknycs-gigabit-kiosks-hit-1-billion-sessions-and-5-million-users/ | access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref>

As originally planned, there would be 4,550 hubs by July 2019<ref name="NYDailyNews-WiFiKiosksBronx-20162">{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/wi-fi-kiosks-replace-bronx-pay-phones-linknyc-article-1.2772232 |title=Wi-Fi kiosks will replace Bronx pay phones under LinkNYC |last=Otis |first=Ginger Adams |date=August 30, 2016 |website=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> and 7,500 hubs by 2024,<ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> which would make LinkNYC the largest and fastest public, government-operated Wi-Fi network in the world.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="WNYC-GoodbyePayPhones-20162" /><ref name="WashingtonPost-PayphoneOfTheFuture-2014" /><ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162" /> Slightly more than half, or 52%, of the hubs would be in [[Manhattan]] and the rest would be in the outer boroughs.<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> There would be capacity for up to 10,000 Links within the network, as per the contract.<ref name="WashingtonPost-PayphoneOfTheFuture-2014"/><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /><ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> The total cost for installation is estimated at more than $200 million.<ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> The eventual network includes 736 Links in the Bronx, 361 of which will have [[advertising]] and fast network speeds; as well as over 2,500 in Manhattan, most with advertising and fast network speeds.<ref name="NYDailyNews-SlowerinPoorNabes-20142">{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-de-blasio-wi-fi-plan-slower-poor-nabes-article-1.2021146 |title=EXCLUSIVE: De Blasio's Wi-Fi plan slower in poor nabes |last=Smith |first=Greg B. |date=November 24, 2014 |website=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref>

The vast majority of the payphones will be demolished and replaced with Links.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> However, three<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014" /><ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="WashingtonPost-PayphoneOfTheFuture-2014" /> or four<ref name="NYTimes-PhoneBoothsSaved-2016"/> banks of payphones along [[West End Avenue]] in the [[Upper West Side]] are expected to be preserved rather than being replaced with Links.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="WashingtonPost-PayphoneOfTheFuture-2014"/><ref name="NYTimes-PhoneBoothsSaved-2016">{{cite news |last=Kilgannon |first=Corey |title=And Then There Were Four: Phone Booths Saved on Upper West Side Sidewalks |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331 |date=February 10, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/nyregion/and-then-there-were-four-phone-booths-saved-on-upper-west-side-sidewalks.html |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> These payphones are the only remaining fully enclosed payphones in Manhattan.<ref name="NYTimes-PhoneBoothsSaved-2016" /><ref name="HuffingtonPost-LastPhoneBooths-2009">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-carr/the-last-phone-booths-in_b_270099.html |title=The Last Phone Booths In Manhattan |last=Carr |first=Nick |date=August 27, 2009 |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> The preservation process includes creating new fully enclosed booths for the site, which is a difficulty because that specific model of phone booths is no longer manufactured.<ref name="NYTimes-PhoneBoothsSaved-2016"/> The New York City government and Intersection agreed to preserve these payphones because of their historical value, and because they were a relic of the Upper West Side community, having been featured in the 2002 movie ''[[Phone Booth (film)|Phone Booth]]'' and the 2010 book "The Lonely Phone Booth."<ref name="NYTimes-PhoneBoothsSaved-2016"/>

== {{anchor|Kiosks}} Links ==
[[File:3rd_Av_LinkNYC_keyboard_jeh.JPG|thumb|Tablet with keypad, 9-1-1 button, and headphone jack|left]]
The Links are {{convert|9.5|ft|m}} tall, and are compliant with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]].<ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /><ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /> There are two {{convert|55|in|cm|adj=on}} [[High-definition television|high-definition]] displays on each Link<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="TheVerge-NYFinallyGettingWiFi-20152" /><ref name="PCWorld-UsersGetFasterWiFi-20162">{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/3041453/hardware/users-will-get-faster-free-wi-fi-from-hubs-in-new-york.html |title=Users will get faster free Wi-Fi from hubs in New York |last=Shah |first=Agam |date=March 7, 2016 |website=PCWorld |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> for advertisements<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="CityBridge-MediaKit-20142" /><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /><ref name="Gizmodo-LinkNYC-WinningBid-20142" /> and [[public service announcement]]s.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162" /> There is an integrated [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[Tablet computer|tablet]] embedded within each Link, which can be used to access city maps, directions, and services, as well as make video calls;<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162" /> they were formerly also available to allow patrons to use the internet, but these browsers have now been disabled due to abuse (see [[LinkNYC#Content filtering|below]]).<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" />

Each Link includes two free [[USB]] [[Battery charger|charging stations]] for [[smartphone]]s as well as a phone that allows free calls to all [[U.S. state|50 states]] and to [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="Wiggers 2018" /> The Links allow people to make either phone calls (using the keypad and the headphone jack to the keypad's left), or video calls (using the tablet).<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014" /><ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> [[Vonage]] provides this free domestic phone call service as well as the ability to make international calls using [[Telephone card|calling cards]].<ref name="FT-FirstKiosks-20162" /> The Links feature a red 9-1-1 call button between the tablet and the headphone jack,<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="InformationWeek-KickOff-20162">{{cite news |url=http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile-and-wireless/linknyc-wifi-hotspots-kick-off/a/d-id/1323981 |title=LinkNYC WiFi Hotspots Kick Off |date=January 20, 2016 |work=[[InformationWeek]] |last1=Zeman |first1=Eric |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> and they can be used to call the information helpline 3-1-1 as well.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /><ref name="InformationWeek-KickOff-20162" /> The Links can also be used for completing simple time-specific tasks<ref name=":6" /> such as [[Voter registration|registering to vote]].<ref name="AMNY-576000Users" /> In April 2017, the Links were equipped with another app, Aunt Bertha, which could be utilized to find social services such as food pantries, financial aid, and emergency shelter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citylab.com/tech/2017/04/new-york-citys-wifi-kiosks-now-include-a-yelp-for-social-services/522801/|title='Yelp for Social Services' Now Available on Hundreds of New York City Wi-Fi Kiosks|last=Bliss|first=Laura|date=2017-04-13|website=CityLab|access-date=2017-10-01}}</ref> The Links sometimes offer eccentric apps, such as an app to call Santa's voice mail that was enabled in December 2017.<ref name=":6" /> In October 2019, a video relay service for deaf users was added to the Links.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/10/10/linknyc-kiosks-now-accessible-for-the-deaf|title=LinkNYC Kiosks Now Accessible for the Deaf|website=www.ny1.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>

The Wi-Fi technology comes from Ruckus Wireless and is enabled by Qualcomm's Vive 802.11ac Wave 2 4x4 chipsets.<ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162" /> The Links' operating system runs on the [[Qualcomm Snapdragon]] 600 [[Processor (computing)|processor]] and the [[Adreno]] 320 [[graphics processing unit]].<ref name="PCWorld-UsersGetFasterWiFi-20162" /> The Links' hardware and software can handle future upgrades. The software will be updated until at least 2022, but Qualcomm has promised to maintain the Links for the rest of their service lives.<ref name="PCWorld-UsersGetFasterWiFi-20162" />

All of the Links are cleaned twice weekly, with LinkNYC staff removing vandalism and dirt from the Links. Each Link has cameras and over 30 vibration sensors to sense if the kiosk has been hit by an object.<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162">{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/20/10773014/linknyc-public-wifi-access-security-citybridge |title=How secure are New York City's new Wi-Fi hubs? |date=January 20, 2016 |work=[[The Verge]] |last1=Carman |first1=Ashley |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> A separate set of sensors also detects if the USB ports are tampered with.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /> If either the vibration sensors or the USB port sensors detect tampering, an alert is displayed at LinkNYC headquarters that the specific part of the Link has been affected.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /> All of the Links have a [[Uninterruptible power supply|backup battery power supply]] that can last for up to 24 hours if a long-term [[power outage]] were to occur.<ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> This was added to prevent interruption of phone service, as happened in the [[Effects of Hurricane Sandy in New York|aftermath]] of [[Hurricane Sandy]] in 2012, which caused power outages citywide, especially to the city's payphones (which were connected to the municipal power supply of New York City).<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014">{{cite web |title=Pay Phones In NYC To Be Replaced With Up To 10,000 Free Wi-Fi Kiosks Next Year |website=[[Forbes]] |first=Amit |last=Chowdhry |date=November 19, 2014 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/11/19/linknyc-free-wifi/#11c29eb27028 |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>

Antenna Design helped with the overall design of the kiosks,<ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /> which are produced by Comark subsidiary Civiq.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="VillageVoice-LinkNYC-PropagandaEngine-20162" />

=== Advertising screens ===
[[File:LinkNYC kiosk at 23rd and 8th 4.jpg|upright=1.2|alt=A LinkNYC kiosk at 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue, with side advertising panel|thumb|A LinkNYC kiosk at [[23rd Street (Manhattan)|23rd Street]] and [[Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)|Eighth Avenue]], with side advertising panel]]

New York City does not pay for the system because CityBridge oversees the installation, ownership, and operations, and is responsible for building the new optic infrastructure under the streets.<ref name="VillageVoice-LinkNYC-Beacons-20142" /> CityBridge stated in a press release that the network would be free for all users, and that the service would be funded by advertisements.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014" /><ref name="CityBridge-MediaKit-20142" /><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /><ref name="Gizmodo-LinkNYC-WinningBid-20142" /> This advertising will provide revenue for New York City as well as for the partners involved in CityBridge.<ref name="VillageVoice-LinkNYC-Beacons-20142" /> The advertising is estimated to bring in over $1 billion in revenue over twelve years, with the City of New York receiving over $500 million, or about half of that amount.<ref name="6SqFt-CitysFirstWifiKiosks-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> Technically, the LinkNYC network is intended to act as a public internet utility with advertising services.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /> However, in four of the first five years the Links have been active, actual revenue fell short of goals. This is partially due to the fact that some local small businesses and non-profits were given advertisement space for free.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/8502-city-s-much-heralded-link-kiosks-not-generating-projected-revenue|title=Payphone-Replacing LinkNYC Kiosks Not Generating Projected Revenue|last=Voytko|first=Lisette|date=May 6, 2019|website=Gotham Gazette|access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>

The Links' advertising screens also display "NYC Fun Facts", one-sentence factoids about New York City, as well as "This Day in New York" facts and historic photographs of the city, which are shown between advertisements.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/28/linknycs-6-million-users-have-downloaded-8-6-terabytes-of-data/|title=LinkNYC's 6 million users have used 8.6 terabytes of data|date=2019-03-28|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> In April 2018, some advertising screens started displaying real-time bus arrival information for nearby bus routes, using data from the [[MTA Bus Time]] system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bklyner.com/bus-time-link-kiosks/|title=Bus Time Pilot For LinkNYC Kiosks Misses The Mark - BKLYNER|last=Stremple|first=Paul|date=2018-04-04|work=BKLYNER|access-date=2018-04-05|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20180404/TRANSPORTATION/180409959|title=LinkNYC kiosks to double as bus countdown clocks|last=Flamm|first=Matthew|date=2018-04-04|work=Crain's New York Business|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref> Other things displayed on Links include headlines from the [[Associated Press]], as well as weather information, comics, contests, and "content collaborations" where third-party organizations display their own information.<ref name=":7" />

Links in some areas, especially lower-income and lower-traffic areas, are expected to not display advertisements because it is not worthwhile for CityBridge to advertise in these areas.<ref name="NYDailyNews-SlowerinPoorNabes-20142" /> Controversially, the Links that lack advertising are expected to exhibit network speeds that may be as slow as one-tenth of the network speeds of advertisement-enabled Links. {{As of|2014}}, wealthier neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens are expected to have the most Links with advertisements and fast network speeds, while poorer neighborhoods and [[Staten Island]] would get slower Links with no advertising.<ref name="NYDailyNews-SlowerinPoorNabes-20142" />

== Network ==
According to its specifications, the Links' Wi-Fi will cover a radius of 150 feet (46 m)<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="PSFK-LinkNYCPublicInternet-20162" /><ref name="WNYC-GoodbyePayPhones-20162" /><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /><ref name="Gizmodo-LinkNYC-WinningBid-20142" /> to 400 feet (120 m).<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> The Links' Wi-Fi is capable of running at 1 gigabit per second or 1000 megabits per second,<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014" /><ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /><ref name="Gizmodo-LinkNYC-WinningBid-20142" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162" /> more than 100 times faster than the 8.7 megabit per second speed of the average public Wi-Fi network in the United States.<ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162" /><ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> LinkNYC's routers have neither a [[bandwidth cap]] nor a time limit for usage, meaning that users can use LinkNYC Wi-Fi for as long as they need to.<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> The free phone calls are also available for unlimited use.<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> The network is only intended for use in public spaces,<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> though this may be subject to change in the future.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /> In the future, the LinkNYC network could also be used to "connect lighting systems, smart meters, traffic networks, connected cameras and other IoT systems,"<ref name="PCWorld-UsersGetFasterWiFi-20162" /> as well as for utility monitoring and for [[5G]] installations.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" />

CityBridge emphasized that it takes [[Internet security|security]] and [[Internet privacy|privacy]] seriously "and will never sell any personally identifiable information or share with third parties for their own use."<ref name="CityBridge-MediaKit-20142" />{{Rp|2}} Aside from the unsecured network that devices can directly connect to, the Links provide an encrypted network that shields communications from eavesdropping within the network. There are two types of networks: a private (secured [[Wi-Fi Protected Access|WPA/WPA2]]) network called "LinkNYC Private," which is available to [[iOS]] devices with [[iOS 7]] and above; and a public network called "LinkNYC Free Public Wi-Fi," which is available to all devices but is only protected by the device's browser.<ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/technology/personaltech/are-the-free-wi-fi-kiosks-on-new-york-streets-safe.html|title=Are the Free Wi-Fi Kiosks on New York Streets Safe?|last=Biersdorfer|first=J. D.|date=August 26, 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-future-of-public-wi-fi-what-to-do-before-using-free-fast-hot-spots-1453232580|title=The Future of Public Wi-Fi: What to Do Before Using Free, Fast Hot Spots|last=Stern|first=Joanna|date=January 19, 2016|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=December 8, 2016}}</ref> Private network users will have to accept a [[Key (cryptography)|network key]] in order to log onto the LinkNYC Wi-Fi.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /><ref name=":0" /> This would make New York City one of the first American municipalities to have a free, encrypted Wi-Fi network,<ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" /> as well as North America's largest.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /> LinkNYC would also be the fastest citywide ISP in the world, with download and upload speeds between 15 and 32 times faster than on free networks at [[Starbucks]], in [[LaGuardia Airport]], and within New York City hotels.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Amsterdam Av 68 St Link Mar 2017.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|A Link advertising phone charging at the kiosk]]

Originally, the CityBridge consortium was supposed to include [[Transit Wireless]], which maintains the [[New York City Subway]]'s wireless system.<ref name="NYCGov-MayorAnnouncesWinner-20142" /> However, as neither company mentioned each other on their respective websites, one communications writer speculated that the deal had either not been implemented yet or had fallen through. Transit Wireless stated that "those details have not been finalized yet," and CityBridge "promised to let [the writer] know when more information is available."<ref name="LightReading-WhosFeedingFiber-20152" />

The network is extremely popular, and by September 2016, around 450,000 unique users and over 1 million devices connected to the Links in an average week.<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162">{{cite web|url=http://pix11.com/2016/09/12/more-lewd-acts-purportedly-spotted-at-manhattan-wi-fi-kiosks/|title=More lewd acts purportedly spotted at Manhattan Wi-Fi kiosks|last=Chan|first=Shirley|date=September 12, 2016|website=New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV|access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> The Links had been used a total of more than 21 million times by that date.<ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016" /> This had risen to over 576,000 unique users by October 4,<ref name="AMNY-576000Users">{{cite web|url=http://www.amny.com/news/linknyc-free-wi-fi-use-at-kiosks-surpasses-576-000-people-1.12401191|title=LinkNYC: Over 576,000 have used free Wi-Fi at kiosks|last=Pereira|first=Ivan|date=October 4, 2016|website=am New York|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> with 21,000 phone calls made in the previous week alone.<ref name="NYDailyNews-UsageRises12" /> By January 2018, the number of calls registered by the LinkNYC system had risen to 200,000 per month, or 50,000 per week on average. There were also 600,000 unique users connecting to the Links' Wi-Fi or cellular services each week.<ref name=":6" /> The LinkNYC network exceeded 500,000 average monthly calls, 1 billion total sessions, and 5 million monthly users in September 2018.<ref name="Wiggers 2018"/>

One writer for the [[Motherboard (website)|Motherboard]] website observed that the LinkNYC network also helped connect poor communities, as people from these communities come to congregate at the Links.<ref name="Motherboard-PublicWifiConnectingPoor-20162">{{cite web |url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/linknyc-is-bringing-internet-to-new-yorks-most-disconnected-people |title=Is New York City's Public Wi-Fi Actually Connecting the Poor? |last=Huber |first=Linda |date=September 14, 2016 |website=[[Motherboard (website)|motherboard.vice.com]] |publisher=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> This stems from the fact that the network provides service to all New Yorkers regardless of income, but it especially helps residents who would have otherwise used their smartphones for internet access using [[3G]] and [[4G]].<ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> The New York City Bureau of Policy and Research published a report in 2015 that stated that one-fourth of residents do not have home broadband internet access, including 32 percent of unemployed residents.<ref name="Comptroller-InequalityUpdate-2015">{{Cite web |url=http://comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/documents/Internet_Inequality_UPDATE_September_2015.pdf |title=Internet Inequality: Broadband Access in NYC |last=Stringer |first=Scott |author-link=Scott Stringer |date=September 2015 |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[New York City Comptroller|Office of the New York City Comptroller]]|access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> {{As of|January 2018}}, the most-dialed number on the LinkNYC network was the helpline for the state's [[electronic benefit transfer]] system, which distributes food stamps to low-income residents.<ref name=":6" /> The LinkNYC network is seen as only somewhat mitigating this internet inequality, as many poor neighborhoods, like some in the Bronx, will get relatively few Links.<ref name="Motherboard-PublicWifiConnectingPoor-20162" /> LinkNYC is seen as an example of [[smart city]] infrastructure in New York City, as it is a technologically advanced system that helps enable technological connectivity.<ref name="Adweek-SmartCityWhatItMeans-2016" /><ref name="Motherboard-PublicWifiConnectingPoor-20162" />


== Concerns ==
== Concerns ==
Line 122: Line 56:


===Other privacy issues===
===Other privacy issues===
According to LinkNYC, it does not monitor its kiosks' Wi-Fi, nor does it give information to third parties.<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /> However, data will be given to law enforcement officials in situations where LinkNYC is legally obliged.<ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162" /><ref name=":2" /> Its [[privacy policy]] states that it can collect [[personally identifiable information]] (PII) from users to give to "service providers, and sub-contractors to the extent reasonably necessary to enable us provide the Services; a third party that acquires CityBridge or a majority of its assets [if CityBridge was acquired by that third party]; a third party with whom we must legally share information about you; you, upon your request; [and] other third parties with your express consent to do so."<ref name="NYCGov-LinkNYC-PrivacyPolicy2">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/downloads/pdf/Proposed-PCS-Franchise-Exhibit-2-CityBridge-Privacy-Policy.pdf |title=PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT: Exhibit 2 – Privacy Policy: CityBridge, LLC |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]] |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> Non-personally identifiable information can be shared with service providers and advertisers.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014"/><ref name="NYCGov-LinkNYC-PrivacyPolicy2" /> The privacy policy also states that "in the event that we receive a request from a governmental entity to provide it with your {{Sic|Personally|expected=Personal}} Information, we will take reasonable attempts to notify you of such request, to the extent possible."<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="NYCGov-LinkNYC-PrivacyPolicy2" />
According to LinkNYC, it does not monitor its kiosks' Wi-Fi, nor does it give information to third parties.<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162">{{cite web |last=Robbins |first=Christopher |date=January 5, 2016 |title=Brace For The "Fastest Internet You've Ever Used" At These Free Sidewalk Kiosks |url=http://gothamist.com/2016/01/05/linknyc_wifi_2_fast_2_furious.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001055640/http://gothamist.com/2016/01/05/linknyc_wifi_2_fast_2_furious.php |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |access-date=September 15, 2016 |website=[[Gothamist]]}}</ref> However, data will be given to law enforcement officials in situations where LinkNYC is legally obliged.<ref name="NYDailyNews-PayphonesReplaced-20162">{{cite news |last1=Alba |first1=Alejandro |date=January 5, 2016 |title=New York to start replacing payphones with Wi-Fi kiosks |work=[[New York Daily News]] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-york-start-replacing-payphone-wi-fi-kiosks-article-1.2485429 |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Its [[privacy policy]] states that it can collect [[personally identifiable information]] (PII) from users to give to "service providers, and sub-contractors to the extent reasonably necessary to enable us provide the Services; a third party that acquires CityBridge or a majority of its assets [if CityBridge was acquired by that third party]; a third party with whom we must legally share information about you; you, upon your request; [and] other third parties with your express consent to do so."<ref name="NYCGov-LinkNYC-PrivacyPolicy2">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/downloads/pdf/Proposed-PCS-Franchise-Exhibit-2-CityBridge-Privacy-Policy.pdf |title=PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT: Exhibit 2 – Privacy Policy: CityBridge, LLC |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]] |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> Non-personally identifiable information can be shared with service providers and advertisers.<ref name="Forbes-PayPhonesWifiKiosks-2014">{{cite web |last=Chowdhry |first=Amit |date=November 19, 2014 |title=Pay Phones In NYC To Be Replaced With Up To 10,000 Free Wi-Fi Kiosks Next Year |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/11/19/linknyc-free-wifi/#11c29eb27028 |access-date=September 17, 2016 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref name="NYCGov-LinkNYC-PrivacyPolicy2" /> The privacy policy also states that "in the event that we receive a request from a governmental entity to provide it with your {{Sic|Personally|expected=Personal}} Information, we will take reasonable attempts to notify you of such request, to the extent possible."<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="NYCGov-LinkNYC-PrivacyPolicy2" />


There are also concerns that despite the WPA/WPA2 encryption, [[hacker]]s may still be able to steal other users' data, especially since the LinkNYC Wi-Fi network has millions of users. To reduce the risk of data theft, LinkNYC is deploying a better encryption system for devices that have [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|Hotspot 2.0]].<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162" /> Another concern is that hackers could affect the tablet itself by redirecting it to a [[malware]] site when users put in PII, or adding a [[keystroke logging]] program to the tablets.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /> To protect against this, CityBridge places in "a series of filters and proxies" that prevents malware from being installed; ends a session when a tablet is detected communicating with a [[command-and-control server]]; and resets the entire kiosk after 15 seconds of inactivity.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /><ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016" /> The USB ports have been configured so that they can only be used to charge devices. However, the USB ports are still susceptible to physical tampering with skimmers, which may lead to a user's device getting a [[malware]] infection while charging; this is prevented by the [[LinkNYC#Links|more than 30 anti-vandalism sensors]] on each Link.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /><ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016" />
There are also concerns that despite the WPA/WPA2 encryption, [[hacker]]s may still be able to steal other users' data, especially since the LinkNYC Wi-Fi network has millions of users. To reduce the risk of data theft, LinkNYC is deploying a better encryption system for devices that have [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|Hotspot 2.0]].<ref name="Gothamist-BraceForFastestInternet-20162" /><ref name="NYCGov-PublicLaunch-20162">{{cite web |date=February 18, 2016 |title=Mayor de Blasio Announces Public Launch of LinkNYC Program |url=http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/184-16/mayor-de-blasio-public-launch-linknyc-program-largest-fastest-free-municipal |access-date=September 16, 2016 |website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]] |publisher=[[Government of New York City]]}}</ref> Another concern is that hackers could affect the tablet itself by redirecting it to a [[malware]] site when users put in PII, or adding a [[keystroke logging]] program to the tablets.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162">{{cite news |last1=Carman |first1=Ashley |date=January 20, 2016 |title=How secure are New York City's new Wi-Fi hubs? |work=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/20/10773014/linknyc-public-wifi-access-security-citybridge |access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> To protect against this, CityBridge places in "a series of filters and proxies" that prevents malware from being installed; ends a session when a tablet is detected communicating with a [[command-and-control server]]; and resets the entire kiosk after 15 seconds of inactivity.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /><ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016">{{cite news |last=Biersdorfer |first=J. D. |date=August 26, 2016 |title=Are the Free Wi-Fi Kiosks on New York Streets Safe? |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/technology/personaltech/are-the-free-wi-fi-kiosks-on-new-york-streets-safe.html |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> The USB ports have been configured so that they can only be used to charge devices. However, the USB ports are still susceptible to physical tampering with skimmers, which may lead to a user's device getting a [[malware]] infection while charging; this is prevented by the [[LinkNYC#Links|more than 30 anti-vandalism sensors]] on each Link.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /><ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016" />


Yet another concern is that a person may carry out a [[spoofing attack]] by renaming their personal Wi-Fi network to "LinkNYC." This is potentially dangerous since many electronic devices tend to automatically connect to networks with a given name, but do not differentiate between the different networks.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /> One reporter for ''[[The Verge]]'' suggested that to circumvent this, a person could turn off their mobile device's Wi-Fi while in the vicinity of a kiosk, or "forget" the LinkNYC network altogether.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" />
Yet another concern is that a person may carry out a [[spoofing attack]] by renaming their personal Wi-Fi network to "LinkNYC." This is potentially dangerous since many electronic devices tend to automatically connect to networks with a given name, but do not differentiate between the different networks.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" /> One reporter for ''[[The Verge]]'' suggested that to circumvent this, a person could turn off their mobile device's Wi-Fi while in the vicinity of a kiosk, or "forget" the LinkNYC network altogether.<ref name="TheVerge-LinkNYCSecurity-20162" />


The cameras on the top of each kiosk's tablet posed a concern in some communities where these cameras face the interiors of buildings. However, {{As of|July 2017|lc=y}}, the cameras were not activated.<ref name=":4" />
The cameras on the top of each kiosk's tablet posed a concern in some communities where these cameras face the interiors of buildings. However, {{As of|July 2017|lc=y}}, the cameras were not activated.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Frost |first=Mary |date=July 31, 2017 |title=LinkNYC kiosks not a hit with everyone |url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/7/31/linknyc-kiosks-not-hit-everyone |access-date=2017-08-09 |website=Brooklyn Daily Eagle}}</ref>


=== {{Anchor|Content filtering}}Browser access and content filtering ===
=== {{Anchor|Content filtering}}Browser access and content filtering ===
[[File:Malfunctioning_LinkNYC_kiosk_01.jpg|thumb|A Link with its tablet turned off due to the screens' browsing capabilities being shut off in September 2016. Instead, the tablet shows the reflection of the street scene in the background.]]
[[File:Malfunctioning_LinkNYC_kiosk_01.jpg|thumb|A Link with its tablet turned off due to the screens' browsing capabilities being shut off in September 2016. Instead, the tablet shows the reflection of the street scene in the background.]]
In the summer of 2016, a [[Content-control software|content filter]] was set up on the Links to restrict navigation to certain websites, such as pornography sites and other sites with [[not safe for work]] (NSFW) content.<ref name="Gothamist-WifiPorn-20162">{{Cite web |url=http://gothamist.com/2016/07/28/wifi_kiosks.php |title=Yes, NYC's New WiFi Kiosks Are Still Being Used To View Porn |last=Chung |first=Jen |date=July 28, 2016 |website=[[Gothamist]] |access-date=September 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923062958/http://gothamist.com/2016/07/28/wifi_kiosks.php |archive-date=September 23, 2016 }}</ref> This was described as a problem especially among the homeless,<ref name="NYPost-BumCaught-20162">{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2016/09/11/bum-caught-masturbating-in-broad-daylight-next-to-wi-fi-kiosk/ |title=Bum caught masturbating in broad daylight next to Wi-Fi kiosk |last1=DeGregory |first1=Priscilla |last2=Rosenbaum |first2=Sophia |date=September 11, 2016 |website=[[New York Post]] |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> and at least one video showed a homeless man watching pornography on a LinkNYC tablet.<ref name="Gothamist-WifiPorn-20162" /> This problem has supposedly been ongoing since at least January 2016.<ref name="NYPost-BumCaught-20162" /> Despite the existence of the filter, Link users still found a way to bypass these filters.<ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016" /><ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /><ref name="ArsTechnica-KiosksDisableWebBrowsing-20162">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/09/after-lewd-acts-nycs-free-internet-kiosks-disable-web-browsing/ |title=After "lewd acts," NYC's free Internet kiosks disable Web browsing |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=September 14, 2016 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name="CNN-WifiProblem-2016" /> The filters, which consisted of Google [[SafeSearch]] as well as a web blocker that was based on the web blockers of many schools, were intentionally lax to begin with because LinkNYC feared that stricter filters that blocked certain keywords would alienate customers.<ref name="CNN-WifiProblem-2016">{{cite web | last=King | first=Hope | title=Why free Wi-Fi kiosks in NYC can't stop people from watching porn in public | website=[[CNNMoney]] |publisher=[[CNN]] | date=July 30, 2016 | url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/30/technology/street-porn-wifi-problem/index.html | access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> Other challenges included the fact that "stimulating" [[user-generated content]] can be found on popular, relatively interactive websites like [[Tumblr]] and [[YouTube]]; it is hard to block NSFW content on these sites, because that would entail blocking the entire website when only a small portion hosts NSFW content. In addition, it was hard, if not impossible, for LinkNYC to block new websites with NSFW content, as such websites are constantly being created.<ref name="CNN-WifiProblem-2016"/>
In the summer of 2016, a [[Content-control software|content filter]] was set up on the Links to restrict navigation to certain websites, such as pornography sites and other sites with [[not safe for work]] (NSFW) content.<ref name="Gothamist-WifiPorn-20162">{{Cite web |url=http://gothamist.com/2016/07/28/wifi_kiosks.php |title=Yes, NYC's New WiFi Kiosks Are Still Being Used To View Porn |last=Chung |first=Jen |date=July 28, 2016 |website=[[Gothamist]] |access-date=September 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923062958/http://gothamist.com/2016/07/28/wifi_kiosks.php |archive-date=September 23, 2016 }}</ref> This was described as a problem especially among the homeless,<ref name="NYPost-BumCaught-20162">{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2016/09/11/bum-caught-masturbating-in-broad-daylight-next-to-wi-fi-kiosk/ |title=Bum caught masturbating in broad daylight next to Wi-Fi kiosk |last1=DeGregory |first1=Priscilla |last2=Rosenbaum |first2=Sophia |date=September 11, 2016 |website=[[New York Post]] |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> and at least one video showed a homeless man watching pornography on a LinkNYC tablet.<ref name="Gothamist-WifiPorn-20162" /> This problem has supposedly been ongoing since at least January 2016.<ref name="NYPost-BumCaught-20162" /> Despite the existence of the filter, Link users still found a way to bypass these filters.<ref name="NYTimes-AreWifiKiosksSafe-2016" /><ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162">{{cite web |last=Chan |first=Shirley |date=September 12, 2016 |title=More lewd acts purportedly spotted at Manhattan Wi-Fi kiosks |url=http://pix11.com/2016/09/12/more-lewd-acts-purportedly-spotted-at-manhattan-wi-fi-kiosks/ |access-date=September 15, 2016 |website=New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV}}</ref><ref name="ArsTechnica-KiosksDisableWebBrowsing-20162">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/09/after-lewd-acts-nycs-free-internet-kiosks-disable-web-browsing/ |title=After "lewd acts," NYC's free Internet kiosks disable Web browsing |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=September 14, 2016 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name="CNN-WifiProblem-2016" /> The filters, which consisted of Google [[SafeSearch]] as well as a web blocker that was based on the web blockers of many schools, were intentionally lax to begin with because LinkNYC feared that stricter filters that blocked certain keywords would alienate customers.<ref name="CNN-WifiProblem-2016">{{cite web | last=King | first=Hope | title=Why free Wi-Fi kiosks in NYC can't stop people from watching porn in public | website=[[CNNMoney]] |publisher=[[CNN]] | date=July 30, 2016 | url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/30/technology/street-porn-wifi-problem/index.html | access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> Other challenges included the fact that "stimulating" [[user-generated content]] can be found on popular, relatively interactive websites like [[Tumblr]] and [[YouTube]]; it is hard to block NSFW content on these sites, because that would entail blocking the entire website when only a small portion hosts NSFW content. In addition, it was hard, if not impossible, for LinkNYC to block new websites with NSFW content, as such websites are constantly being created.<ref name="CNN-WifiProblem-2016"/>


A few days after Díaz's and Johnson's statements, the web browsers of the tablets embedded into the Links were disabled indefinitely due to concerns of illicit activities such as drug deals and NSFW website browsing.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /><ref name="Forbes Janet W Burns 2016" /> LinkNYC cited "lewd acts" as the reason for shutting off the tables' browsing capabilities.<ref name="ArsTechnica-KiosksDisableWebBrowsing-20162" /> One [[Murray Hill, Manhattan|Murray Hill]] resident reported that a homeless man "enthusiastically hump[ed]" a Link in her neighborhood while watching pornography.<ref name="NYPost-BumCaught-20162" /> Despite the tablets being disabled, the 9-1-1 capabilities, maps, and phone calls would still be usable, and people can still use LinkNYC Wi-Fi from their own devices.<ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016" /><ref name="ArsTechnica-KiosksDisableWebBrowsing-20162" /><ref name="Forbes Janet W Burns 2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2016/09/16/linknyc-drops-web-browsing-from-its-kiosks-after-people-unsurprisingly-watch-porn/|title=LinkNYC Drops Web Access From Kiosks After Some Users Watch Porn|last=Burns|first=Janet W.|date=September 16, 2016|website=Forbes|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>
A few days after Díaz's and Johnson's statements, the web browsers of the tablets embedded into the Links were disabled indefinitely due to concerns of illicit activities such as drug deals and NSFW website browsing.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162">{{Cite news |last=Mcgeehan |first=Patrick |date=September 14, 2016 |title=Free Wi-Fi Was to Aid New Yorkers. An Unsavory Side Spurs a Retreat. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/nyregion/internet-browsers-to-be-disabled-on-new-yorks-free-wi-fi-kiosks.html |access-date=September 15, 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Forbes Janet W Burns 2016" /> LinkNYC cited "lewd acts" as the reason for shutting off the tables' browsing capabilities.<ref name="ArsTechnica-KiosksDisableWebBrowsing-20162" /> One [[Murray Hill, Manhattan|Murray Hill]] resident reported that a homeless man "enthusiastically hump[ed]" a Link in her neighborhood while watching pornography.<ref name="NYPost-BumCaught-20162" /> Despite the tablets being disabled, the 9-1-1 capabilities, maps, and phone calls would still be usable, and people can still use LinkNYC Wi-Fi from their own devices.<ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016" /><ref name="ArsTechnica-KiosksDisableWebBrowsing-20162" /><ref name="Forbes Janet W Burns 2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2016/09/16/linknyc-drops-web-browsing-from-its-kiosks-after-people-unsurprisingly-watch-porn/|title=LinkNYC Drops Web Access From Kiosks After Some Users Watch Porn|last=Burns|first=Janet W.|date=September 16, 2016|website=Forbes|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>


The disabling of the LinkNYC tablets' browsers had stoked fears about further restrictions on the Links. ''[[The Independent]]'', a British newspaper, surveyed some homeless New Yorkers and found that while most of these homeless citizens used the kiosks for legitimate reasons (usually not to browse NSFW content), many of the interviewees were scared that LinkNYC may eventually charge money to use the internet via the Links, or that the kiosks may be demolished altogether.<ref name="Independent-HomelessWiFi-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/porn-youtube-new-york-wifi-hotspot-stations-homeless-commandeer-a7206046.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/porn-youtube-new-york-wifi-hotspot-stations-homeless-commandeer-a7206046.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Homeless men took over New York's public WiFi to watch porn, TV and YouTube |date=August 23, 2016 |website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'', another British newspaper, came to a similar conclusion; one of the LinkNYC users they interviewed said that the Links are "very helpful, but of course bad people messed it up for everyone."<ref name="TheGuardian-BadPeopleMisuse-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/15/wi-fi-kiosks-changes-new-york-linknyc |title='Bad people messed it up': misuse forces changes to New York's Wi-Fi kiosks |last=Puglise |first=Nicole |date=September 15, 2016 |website=the Guardian |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> In a press release, LinkNYC refuted fears that service would be [[paywall]]ed or eliminated, though it did state that several improvements, including dimming the kiosks and lowering maximum volumes, were being implemented to reduce the kiosks' effect on the surrounding communities.<ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.link.nyc/service-update.html |title=Service Update |date=September 14, 2016 |website=CityBridge / LinkNYC |publisher=Intersection |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>
The disabling of the LinkNYC tablets' browsers had stoked fears about further restrictions on the Links. ''[[The Independent]]'', a British newspaper, surveyed some homeless New Yorkers and found that while most of these homeless citizens used the kiosks for legitimate reasons (usually not to browse NSFW content), many of the interviewees were scared that LinkNYC may eventually charge money to use the internet via the Links, or that the kiosks may be demolished altogether.<ref name="Independent-HomelessWiFi-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/porn-youtube-new-york-wifi-hotspot-stations-homeless-commandeer-a7206046.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/porn-youtube-new-york-wifi-hotspot-stations-homeless-commandeer-a7206046.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Homeless men took over New York's public WiFi to watch porn, TV and YouTube |date=August 23, 2016 |website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'', another British newspaper, came to a similar conclusion; one of the LinkNYC users they interviewed said that the Links are "very helpful, but of course bad people messed it up for everyone."<ref name="TheGuardian-BadPeopleMisuse-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/15/wi-fi-kiosks-changes-new-york-linknyc |title='Bad people messed it up': misuse forces changes to New York's Wi-Fi kiosks |last=Puglise |first=Nicole |date=September 15, 2016 |website=the Guardian |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> In a press release, LinkNYC refuted fears that service would be [[paywall]]ed or eliminated, though it did state that several improvements, including dimming the kiosks and lowering maximum volumes, were being implemented to reduce the kiosks' effect on the surrounding communities.<ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.link.nyc/service-update.html |title=Service Update |date=September 14, 2016 |website=CityBridge / LinkNYC |publisher=Intersection |access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>


Immediately after the disabling of the tablets' browsing capabilities, reports of loitering near kiosks decreased by more than 80%.<ref name="AMNY-576000Users" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-UsageRises12" /> By the next year, such complaints had dropped 96% from the pre-September 2016 figure.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170922/greenpoint/manhattan-avenue-police-nypd-linknyc-kiosk|title=Greenpoint LinkNYC Kiosk Acts As 'Drug Den' Concierge: Neighbors|last=Hogan|first=Gwynne|date=2017-09-22|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=2017-10-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001213958/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170922/greenpoint/manhattan-avenue-police-nypd-linknyc-kiosk|archive-date=2017-10-01}}</ref> The tablets' use, as a whole, has increased 12%, with more unique users accessing maps, phone calls, and 3-1-1.<ref name="AMNY-576000Users" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-UsageRises12">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/linknyc-kiosks-usage-rises-12-month-web-browsing-disabled-article-1.2817227|title=LinkNYC kiosks usage rises 12% month after web browsing disabled|last=Fermino|first=Jennifer|date=October 4, 2016|website=NY Daily News|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref>
Immediately after the disabling of the tablets' browsing capabilities, reports of loitering near kiosks decreased by more than 80%.<ref name="AMNY-576000Users">{{cite web |last=Pereira |first=Ivan |date=October 4, 2016 |title=LinkNYC: Over 576,000 have used free Wi-Fi at kiosks |url=http://www.amny.com/news/linknyc-free-wi-fi-use-at-kiosks-surpasses-576-000-people-1.12401191 |access-date=October 5, 2016 |website=am New York}}</ref><ref name="NYDailyNews-UsageRises12" /> By the next year, such complaints had dropped 96% from the pre-September 2016 figure.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170922/greenpoint/manhattan-avenue-police-nypd-linknyc-kiosk|title=Greenpoint LinkNYC Kiosk Acts As 'Drug Den' Concierge: Neighbors|last=Hogan|first=Gwynne|date=2017-09-22|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=2017-10-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001213958/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170922/greenpoint/manhattan-avenue-police-nypd-linknyc-kiosk|archive-date=2017-10-01}}</ref> The tablets' use, as a whole, has increased 12%, with more unique users accessing maps, phone calls, and 3-1-1.<ref name="AMNY-576000Users" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-UsageRises12">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/linknyc-kiosks-usage-rises-12-month-web-browsing-disabled-article-1.2817227|title=LinkNYC kiosks usage rises 12% month after web browsing disabled|last=Fermino|first=Jennifer|date=October 4, 2016|website=NY Daily News|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref>


=== Nuisance complaints ===
=== Nuisance complaints ===
Line 145: Line 79:
In September 2016, the borough president of the Bronx, [[Rubén Díaz Jr.]], called on city leaders to take stricter action, saying that "after learning about the inappropriate and over-extended usage of Links throughout the city, in particular in Manhattan, it is time to make adjustments that will allow all of our city residents to use this service safely and comfortably."<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /> City Councilman [[Corey Johnson (politician)|Corey Johnson]] said that [[New York City Police Department|some police officials]] had called for several Links in [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] to be removed because homeless men had been watching NSFW content on these Links while children were nearby.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /><ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCUsers-2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160830/chelsea/linknyc-users-watching-porn-doing-drugs-on-chelsea-sidewalks-locals-say|title=LinkNYC Users Watching Porn, Doing Drugs on Chelsea Sidewalks, Locals Say|last=Rajamani|first=Maya|date=August 30, 2016|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919034736/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160830/chelsea/linknyc-users-watching-porn-doing-drugs-on-chelsea-sidewalks-locals-say|archive-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> Barbara A. Blair, president of the [[Garment District, Manhattan|Garment District]] Alliance, stated that "people are congregating around these Links to the point where they're bringing furniture and building little encampments clustered around them. It's created this really unfortunate and actually deplorable condition."<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" />
In September 2016, the borough president of the Bronx, [[Rubén Díaz Jr.]], called on city leaders to take stricter action, saying that "after learning about the inappropriate and over-extended usage of Links throughout the city, in particular in Manhattan, it is time to make adjustments that will allow all of our city residents to use this service safely and comfortably."<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /> City Councilman [[Corey Johnson (politician)|Corey Johnson]] said that [[New York City Police Department|some police officials]] had called for several Links in [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] to be removed because homeless men had been watching NSFW content on these Links while children were nearby.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /><ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCUsers-2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160830/chelsea/linknyc-users-watching-porn-doing-drugs-on-chelsea-sidewalks-locals-say|title=LinkNYC Users Watching Porn, Doing Drugs on Chelsea Sidewalks, Locals Say|last=Rajamani|first=Maya|date=August 30, 2016|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919034736/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160830/chelsea/linknyc-users-watching-porn-doing-drugs-on-chelsea-sidewalks-locals-say|archive-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> Barbara A. Blair, president of the [[Garment District, Manhattan|Garment District]] Alliance, stated that "people are congregating around these Links to the point where they're bringing furniture and building little encampments clustered around them. It's created this really unfortunate and actually deplorable condition."<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" />


A related problem arising from the tablets' browser access was that even though the tablets were intended for people to use it for a short period of time, the Links began being "monopolized" almost as soon as they were unveiled.<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /> Some people would use the Links for hours at a time.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /> Particularly, homeless New Yorkers would sometimes loiter around the Links, using newspaper dispensers and milk crates as "makeshift furniture" on which they could sit while using the Links.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /><ref name="Motherboard-PublicWifiConnectingPoor-20162" /><ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCUsers-2016" /> The ''[[New York Post]]'' characterized the Links as having become "living rooms for vagrants."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/08/29/wi-fi-kiosks-have-become-living-rooms-for-vagrants/|title=Wi-Fi kiosks have become living rooms for vagrants|last=Fonrouge|first=Gabrielle|date=August 29, 2016|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> As a result, LinkNYC staff were working on a way to help ensure that Links would not be monopolized by one or two people.<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /><ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016" /> Proposals for solutions included putting time limits on how long the tablets could be used by any one person.<ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCTimeLimits-2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160901/concourse/linknyc-should-get-safety-limits-wake-of-porn-complaints-official-says|title=LinkNYC Should Have Time Limits in Wake of Porn Complaints, Official Says|last=Small|first=Eddie|date=September 1, 2016|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919034722/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160901/concourse/linknyc-should-get-safety-limits-wake-of-porn-complaints-official-says|archive-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref>
A related problem arising from the tablets' browser access was that even though the tablets were intended for people to use it for a short period of time, the Links began being "monopolized" almost as soon as they were unveiled.<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /> Some people would use the Links for hours at a time.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /> Particularly, homeless New Yorkers would sometimes loiter around the Links, using newspaper dispensers and milk crates as "makeshift furniture" on which they could sit while using the Links.<ref name="NYTimes-FreeWiFi-20162" /><ref name="Motherboard-PublicWifiConnectingPoor-20162">{{cite web |last=Huber |first=Linda |date=September 14, 2016 |title=Is New York City's Public Wi-Fi Actually Connecting the Poor? |url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/linknyc-is-bringing-internet-to-new-yorks-most-disconnected-people |access-date=September 16, 2016 |website=[[Motherboard (website)|motherboard.vice.com]] |publisher=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]}}</ref><ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCUsers-2016" /> The ''[[New York Post]]'' characterized the Links as having become "living rooms for vagrants."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/08/29/wi-fi-kiosks-have-become-living-rooms-for-vagrants/|title=Wi-Fi kiosks have become living rooms for vagrants|last=Fonrouge|first=Gabrielle|date=August 29, 2016|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> As a result, LinkNYC staff were working on a way to help ensure that Links would not be monopolized by one or two people.<ref name="Pix11-MoreActs-20162" /><ref name="LinkNYC-ServiceUpdate-2016" /> Proposals for solutions included putting time limits on how long the tablets could be used by any one person.<ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCTimeLimits-2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160901/concourse/linknyc-should-get-safety-limits-wake-of-porn-complaints-official-says|title=LinkNYC Should Have Time Limits in Wake of Porn Complaints, Official Says|last=Small|first=Eddie|date=September 1, 2016|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919034722/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160901/concourse/linknyc-should-get-safety-limits-wake-of-porn-complaints-official-says|archive-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref>


Some people stated that the Links could also be used for loitering and illicit phone calls.<ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCUsers-2016" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-LinkKiosksConcern-20162">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/linknyc-kiosks-concern-locals-web-browsing-article-1.2794185|title=LinkNYC kiosks still concern for locals even without web browsing|last1=Marcius|first1=Chelsia|last2=Burke|first2=Kerry|date=September 15, 2016|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=September 16, 2016|last3=Fermino|first3=Jennifer}}</ref> One [[Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan|Hell's Kitchen]] bar owner cited concerns about the users of a Link located right outside his bar, including a homeless man who a patron complained was a "creeper" watching animal pornography, as well as several people who made drug deals using the Link's phone capabilities while families were nearby.<ref name="NYDailyNews-LinkKiosksConcern-20162" /> In [[Greenpoint, Brooklyn|Greenpoint]], locals alleged that after Links were activated in their neighborhood in July 2017, these particular kiosks became locations for drug deals; however, that particular Link was installed near a known [[Drug house|drug den]].<ref name=":5" />
Some people stated that the Links could also be used for loitering and illicit phone calls.<ref name="DNAINFO-LinkNYCUsers-2016" /><ref name="NYDailyNews-LinkKiosksConcern-20162">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/linknyc-kiosks-concern-locals-web-browsing-article-1.2794185|title=LinkNYC kiosks still concern for locals even without web browsing|last1=Marcius|first1=Chelsia|last2=Burke|first2=Kerry|date=September 15, 2016|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=September 16, 2016|last3=Fermino|first3=Jennifer}}</ref> One [[Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan|Hell's Kitchen]] bar owner cited concerns about the users of a Link located right outside his bar, including a homeless man who a patron complained was a "creeper" watching animal pornography, as well as several people who made drug deals using the Link's phone capabilities while families were nearby.<ref name="NYDailyNews-LinkKiosksConcern-20162" /> In [[Greenpoint, Brooklyn|Greenpoint]], locals alleged that after Links were activated in their neighborhood in July 2017, these particular kiosks became locations for drug deals; however, that particular Link was installed near a known [[Drug house|drug den]].<ref name=":5" />

== Wider deployment ==
Intersection, in collaboration with British telecommunications company [[BT Consumer|BT]] and British advertising agency [[STV Group (Scotland)|Primesight]], is also planning to install up to 850 Links in the [[United Kingdom]], including in [[London]], beginning in 2017. The [[LinkUK]] kiosks, as they will be called, are similar to the LinkNYC kiosks in New York City. These Links will replace some of London's iconic [[telephone booth]]s due to these booths' age.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/25/linknycs-free-wifi-and-phone-kiosks-hit-london-as-linkuk-in-partnership-with-bt/|title=LinkNYC's free WiFi and phone kiosks hit London as LinkUK, in partnership with BT|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|website=TechCrunch|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/25/13401348/link-public-wi-fi-kiosk-london|title=Link brings its free public Wi-Fi booths from New York to London|last=McCormick|first=Rich|date=October 25, 2016|website=The Verge|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/3134933/wi-fi/london-is-next-in-line-for-google-backed-gigabit-wi-fi.html|title=London is next in line for Google-backed gigabit Wi-Fi|newspaper=PCWorld|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref> The first hundred Links would be installed in the [[London Borough of Camden|borough of Camden]].<ref name=":3" /> The Links will have tablets, but they will lack web browsing capabilities due to the problems that LinkNYC faced in enabling the tablet browsers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/londons-link-smart-kiosks-to-be-stripped-down-due-to-nyc-complaints/|title=London's Link smart kiosks will be stripped down due to NYC complaints|last=Osborne|first=Charlie|website=ZDNet|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/read/londons-new-public-wifi-wont-allow-public-browsing|title=London's New Wi-Fi Kiosks Won't Have Public Browsing Due to NYC's Porn Problem|work=[[Motherboard (website)|motherboard.vice.com]] |publisher=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|language=en-us|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref>

In early 2016, Intersection announced that it could install about 100 Links in a mid-sized city in the United States, provided that it wins the [[United States Department of Transportation]]'s Smart City Challenge.<ref name="Crains-KiosksInAnotherCity-2016">{{cite web | last=Flamm | first=Matthew | title=The Wi-Fi kiosks replacing New York pay phones will soon pop up in another city | website=Crain's New York Business | date=March 17, 2016 | url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160317/TECHNOLOGY/160319866/linknyc-will-soon-pop-up-in-another-city | access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref> Approximately 25 of that city's blocks will get the Links, which will be integrated with Sidewalk Labs' transportation data-analysis initiative, [[Sidewalk Labs#Flow|Flow]].<ref name="Crains-KiosksInAnotherCity-2016"/> In summer 2016, the city of [[Columbus, Ohio]], was announced as the winner of the Smart City Challenge.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-columbus-winner-unprecedented-40-million-smart|title=U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Columbus as Winner of Unprecedented $40 Million Smart City Challenge|date=June 23, 2016|newspaper=Department of Transportation|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref> Intersection has proposed installing Links in four Columbus neighborhoods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2016/7/1/12072122/alphabet-sidewalk-labs-city-wifi-sidewalk-kiosks|title=Inside Alphabet's money-spinning, terrorist-foiling, gigabit Wi-Fi kiosks|last=Harris|first=Mark|date=July 1, 2016|website=Recode|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref>

In July 2017, the city of [[Hoboken, New Jersey]], located across the [[Hudson River]] from Manhattan, proposed adding free Wi-Fi kiosks on its busiest pedestrian corridors. The kiosks, which are also a smart-city initiative, are proposed to be installed by Intersection.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2017/07/hoboken_to_install_free_wifi_on_busy_sidewalks.html|title=City to offer free wifi on busy sidewalks|last=Strunsky|first=Steve|date=July 22, 2017|work=NJ.com|access-date=2017-08-09|language=en-US}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 22:42, 23 August 2022

LinkNYC
FoundedNovember 7, 2014; 9 years ago (2014-11-07)
HeadquartersNew York City, New York, U.S.
Area served
New York metropolitan area
BrandsLinkNYC
ServicesWireless communication
OwnerIntersection (CityBridge consortium)
Qualcomm
CIVIQ Smartscapes
Websitelink.nyc

LinkNYC is a program to distribute the Internet to more in New York City. The first kiosks, or "Links," started in late 2015. The initial plan, supported by the CityBridge, intended to install 7,000 kiosks across the city.

CityBridge deployed 1,800 LinkNYC units, most in Manhattan and few in other boroughs.[1] Google became a major investor, through Sidewalk Labs. Ad sales were difficult and the company defaulted on $70 million owed to the city.[2]

Management of CityBridge was assumed by ZenFi, an established infrastructure builder investing $200 million, and Intersection, an advertising organization.

It has installed the first of the new, 32 foot kiosks with provisions for 5G small cells from up to 4 companies. "Dozens will deploy before the end of 2022 and 2,000 by 2026[3]

The earlier 9.5-foot-tall (2.9 m) Links feature two 55-inch (140 cm) high-definition displays on their sides; Android tablet computers for accessing city maps, directions, and services, and making video calls; two free USB charging stations for smartphones; and a phone allowing free calls to all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Links also provide the ability to use calling cards to make international calls, and each Link has one button to call 9-1-1 directly.

Tablet with keypad, 9-1-1 button, and headphone jack

Concerns

Tracking

The deployment of the Links and the method, process, eventual selection, and ownership of entities involved in the project has come under scrutiny by privacy advocates, who express concerns about the terms of service, the financial model, and the collection of end users' data.[4][5][6][7] These concerns are aggravated by the involvement of Sidewalk Labs, which belongs to Google's holding company, Alphabet Inc.[4] Google already has the ability to track the majority of all website visits,[8] and LinkNYC could be used to track people's movements.[4] Nick Pinto of the Village Voice, a Lower Manhattan newspaper, wrote:

Google is in the business of taking as much information as it can get away with, from as many sources as possible, until someone steps in to stop it. ... But LinkNYC marks a radical step even for Google. It is an effort to establish a permanent presence across our city, block by block, and to extend its online model to the physical landscape we humans occupy on a daily basis. The company then intends to clone that system and start selling it around the world, government by government, to as many as will buy.[4]

A newly installed Link

In March 2016, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the New York City office of the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote a letter to Mayor de Blasio outlining their privacy concerns.[6][7] In the letter, representatives for the NYCLU wrote that CityBridge could be retaining too much information about LinkNYC users. They also stated that the privacy policy was vague and needed to be clarified. They recommended that the privacy policy be rewritten so that it expressly mentions whether the Links' environmental sensors or cameras are being used by the NYPD for surveillance or by other city systems.[6] In response, LinkNYC updated its privacy policy to make clear that the kiosks do not store users' browsing history or track the websites visited while using LinkNYC's Wi-Fi,[9] a step that NYCLU commended.[10]

In an unrelated incident, Titan, one of the members of CityBridge, was accused of embedding Bluetooth radio transmitters in their phones, which could be used to track phone users' movements without their consent.[11][12] These beacons were later found to have been permitted by the DOITT, but "without any public notice, consultation, or approval," so they were removed in October 2014.[11] Despite the removal of the transmitters, Titan is proposing putting similar tracking devices on Links, but if the company decides to go through with the plan, it has to notify the public in advance.[11]

In 2018, a New York City College of Technology undergraduate student, Charles Myers, found that LinkNYC had published folders on GitHub titled "LinkNYC Mobile Observation" and "RxLocation". He shared these with The Intercept website, which wrote that the folders indicated that identifiable user data was being collected, including information on the user's coordinates, web browser, operating system, and device details, among other things. However, LinkNYC disputed these claims and filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act claim to force GitHub to remove files containing code that Meyer had copied from LinkNYC's GitHub account.[13]

Other privacy issues

According to LinkNYC, it does not monitor its kiosks' Wi-Fi, nor does it give information to third parties.[14] However, data will be given to law enforcement officials in situations where LinkNYC is legally obliged.[15][7] Its privacy policy states that it can collect personally identifiable information (PII) from users to give to "service providers, and sub-contractors to the extent reasonably necessary to enable us provide the Services; a third party that acquires CityBridge or a majority of its assets [if CityBridge was acquired by that third party]; a third party with whom we must legally share information about you; you, upon your request; [and] other third parties with your express consent to do so."[16] Non-personally identifiable information can be shared with service providers and advertisers.[17][16] The privacy policy also states that "in the event that we receive a request from a governmental entity to provide it with your Personally [sic] Information, we will take reasonable attempts to notify you of such request, to the extent possible."[14][16]

There are also concerns that despite the WPA/WPA2 encryption, hackers may still be able to steal other users' data, especially since the LinkNYC Wi-Fi network has millions of users. To reduce the risk of data theft, LinkNYC is deploying a better encryption system for devices that have Hotspot 2.0.[14][18] Another concern is that hackers could affect the tablet itself by redirecting it to a malware site when users put in PII, or adding a keystroke logging program to the tablets.[19] To protect against this, CityBridge places in "a series of filters and proxies" that prevents malware from being installed; ends a session when a tablet is detected communicating with a command-and-control server; and resets the entire kiosk after 15 seconds of inactivity.[19][20] The USB ports have been configured so that they can only be used to charge devices. However, the USB ports are still susceptible to physical tampering with skimmers, which may lead to a user's device getting a malware infection while charging; this is prevented by the more than 30 anti-vandalism sensors on each Link.[19][20]

Yet another concern is that a person may carry out a spoofing attack by renaming their personal Wi-Fi network to "LinkNYC." This is potentially dangerous since many electronic devices tend to automatically connect to networks with a given name, but do not differentiate between the different networks.[19] One reporter for The Verge suggested that to circumvent this, a person could turn off their mobile device's Wi-Fi while in the vicinity of a kiosk, or "forget" the LinkNYC network altogether.[19]

The cameras on the top of each kiosk's tablet posed a concern in some communities where these cameras face the interiors of buildings. However, as of July 2017, the cameras were not activated.[21]

Browser access and content filtering

A Link with its tablet turned off due to the screens' browsing capabilities being shut off in September 2016. Instead, the tablet shows the reflection of the street scene in the background.

In the summer of 2016, a content filter was set up on the Links to restrict navigation to certain websites, such as pornography sites and other sites with not safe for work (NSFW) content.[22] This was described as a problem especially among the homeless,[23] and at least one video showed a homeless man watching pornography on a LinkNYC tablet.[22] This problem has supposedly been ongoing since at least January 2016.[23] Despite the existence of the filter, Link users still found a way to bypass these filters.[20][24][25][26] The filters, which consisted of Google SafeSearch as well as a web blocker that was based on the web blockers of many schools, were intentionally lax to begin with because LinkNYC feared that stricter filters that blocked certain keywords would alienate customers.[26] Other challenges included the fact that "stimulating" user-generated content can be found on popular, relatively interactive websites like Tumblr and YouTube; it is hard to block NSFW content on these sites, because that would entail blocking the entire website when only a small portion hosts NSFW content. In addition, it was hard, if not impossible, for LinkNYC to block new websites with NSFW content, as such websites are constantly being created.[26]

A few days after Díaz's and Johnson's statements, the web browsers of the tablets embedded into the Links were disabled indefinitely due to concerns of illicit activities such as drug deals and NSFW website browsing.[27][28] LinkNYC cited "lewd acts" as the reason for shutting off the tables' browsing capabilities.[25] One Murray Hill resident reported that a homeless man "enthusiastically hump[ed]" a Link in her neighborhood while watching pornography.[23] Despite the tablets being disabled, the 9-1-1 capabilities, maps, and phone calls would still be usable, and people can still use LinkNYC Wi-Fi from their own devices.[29][25][28]

The disabling of the LinkNYC tablets' browsers had stoked fears about further restrictions on the Links. The Independent, a British newspaper, surveyed some homeless New Yorkers and found that while most of these homeless citizens used the kiosks for legitimate reasons (usually not to browse NSFW content), many of the interviewees were scared that LinkNYC may eventually charge money to use the internet via the Links, or that the kiosks may be demolished altogether.[30] The Guardian, another British newspaper, came to a similar conclusion; one of the LinkNYC users they interviewed said that the Links are "very helpful, but of course bad people messed it up for everyone."[31] In a press release, LinkNYC refuted fears that service would be paywalled or eliminated, though it did state that several improvements, including dimming the kiosks and lowering maximum volumes, were being implemented to reduce the kiosks' effect on the surrounding communities.[29]

Immediately after the disabling of the tablets' browsing capabilities, reports of loitering near kiosks decreased by more than 80%.[32][33] By the next year, such complaints had dropped 96% from the pre-September 2016 figure.[34] The tablets' use, as a whole, has increased 12%, with more unique users accessing maps, phone calls, and 3-1-1.[32][33]

Nuisance complaints

There have been scattered complaints in some communities that the LinkNYC towers themselves are a nuisance. These complaints mainly have to do with loitering, browser access, and kiosk volume, the latter two of which the city has resolved.[21] However, these nuisance complaints are rare citywide; of the 920 kiosks installed citywide by then, there had been only one complaint relating to the kiosk design itself.[21]

In September 2016, the borough president of the Bronx, Rubén Díaz Jr., called on city leaders to take stricter action, saying that "after learning about the inappropriate and over-extended usage of Links throughout the city, in particular in Manhattan, it is time to make adjustments that will allow all of our city residents to use this service safely and comfortably."[24] City Councilman Corey Johnson said that some police officials had called for several Links in Chelsea to be removed because homeless men had been watching NSFW content on these Links while children were nearby.[27][35] Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance, stated that "people are congregating around these Links to the point where they're bringing furniture and building little encampments clustered around them. It's created this really unfortunate and actually deplorable condition."[27]

A related problem arising from the tablets' browser access was that even though the tablets were intended for people to use it for a short period of time, the Links began being "monopolized" almost as soon as they were unveiled.[24] Some people would use the Links for hours at a time.[27] Particularly, homeless New Yorkers would sometimes loiter around the Links, using newspaper dispensers and milk crates as "makeshift furniture" on which they could sit while using the Links.[27][36][35] The New York Post characterized the Links as having become "living rooms for vagrants."[37] As a result, LinkNYC staff were working on a way to help ensure that Links would not be monopolized by one or two people.[24][29] Proposals for solutions included putting time limits on how long the tablets could be used by any one person.[38]

Some people stated that the Links could also be used for loitering and illicit phone calls.[35][39] One Hell's Kitchen bar owner cited concerns about the users of a Link located right outside his bar, including a homeless man who a patron complained was a "creeper" watching animal pornography, as well as several people who made drug deals using the Link's phone capabilities while families were nearby.[39] In Greenpoint, locals alleged that after Links were activated in their neighborhood in July 2017, these particular kiosks became locations for drug deals; however, that particular Link was installed near a known drug den.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Big Tech Pays to Supersize LinkNYC and Revive Broken Promise to Bridge Digital Divide". The City. 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  2. ^ "DiNapoli Examines Faltering LinkNYC Program". Office of the New York State Comptroller. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  3. ^ "LinkNYC 5G kiosks offer better Wi-Fi in underserved communities". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  4. ^ a b c d Pinto, Nick (July 6, 2016). "Google Is Transforming NYC's Payphones Into a 'Personalized Propaganda Engine'". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  5. ^ Dean, Benjamin; Hirose, Mariko (July 24, 2016). "LinkNYC Spy Stations - from HOPE XI - LAMARR" (Livestream video). HOPE XI - The Eleventh HOPE Hackers On Planet Earth!. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Hirose, Mariko; Miller, Johanna (March 15, 2016). "Re: LinkNYC Privacy Policy" (PDF). www.nyclu.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Waddell, Kaveh. "Will New York City's Free Wi-Fi Help Police Watch You?". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  8. ^ Yu, Zhonghao; Macbeth, Sam; Modi, Konark; Pujol, Josep M. (2016). "Tracking the Trackers". Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on World Wide Web. Montreal, Canada: International World Wide Web Conferences Steering Committee. pp. 121–132. ISBN 978-1-4503-4143-1. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  9. ^ Intersection (December 20, 2018). "Privacy Policy". LinkNYC. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  10. ^ "City Strengthens Public Wi-Fi Privacy Policy After NYCLU Raises Concerns". NYCLU. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  11. ^ a b c Stuart, Tessa (November 19, 2014). "New Wi-Fi 'Payphones' May Include Controversial Location-Tracking Beacons". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  12. ^ Brown, Stephen Rex (October 6, 2014). "Manhattan phone booths rigged to follow your every step". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "Are New York's Free LinkNYC Internet Kiosks Tracking Your Movements?". The Intercept. September 8, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Robbins, Christopher (January 5, 2016). "Brace For The "Fastest Internet You've Ever Used" At These Free Sidewalk Kiosks". Gothamist. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  15. ^ Alba, Alejandro (January 5, 2016). "New York to start replacing payphones with Wi-Fi kiosks". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c "PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT: Exhibit 2 – Privacy Policy: CityBridge, LLC" (PDF). nyc.gov. Government of New York City. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  17. ^ Chowdhry, Amit (November 19, 2014). "Pay Phones In NYC To Be Replaced With Up To 10,000 Free Wi-Fi Kiosks Next Year". Forbes. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Mayor de Blasio Announces Public Launch of LinkNYC Program". nyc.gov. Government of New York City. February 18, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  19. ^ a b c d e Carman, Ashley (January 20, 2016). "How secure are New York City's new Wi-Fi hubs?". The Verge. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  20. ^ a b c Biersdorfer, J. D. (August 26, 2016). "Are the Free Wi-Fi Kiosks on New York Streets Safe?". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  21. ^ a b c Frost, Mary (July 31, 2017). "LinkNYC kiosks not a hit with everyone". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  22. ^ a b Chung, Jen (July 28, 2016). "Yes, NYC's New WiFi Kiosks Are Still Being Used To View Porn". Gothamist. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  23. ^ a b c DeGregory, Priscilla; Rosenbaum, Sophia (September 11, 2016). "Bum caught masturbating in broad daylight next to Wi-Fi kiosk". New York Post. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  24. ^ a b c d Chan, Shirley (September 12, 2016). "More lewd acts purportedly spotted at Manhattan Wi-Fi kiosks". New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  25. ^ a b c Brodkin, Jon (September 14, 2016). "After "lewd acts," NYC's free Internet kiosks disable Web browsing". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  26. ^ a b c King, Hope (July 30, 2016). "Why free Wi-Fi kiosks in NYC can't stop people from watching porn in public". CNNMoney. CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  27. ^ a b c d e Mcgeehan, Patrick (September 14, 2016). "Free Wi-Fi Was to Aid New Yorkers. An Unsavory Side Spurs a Retreat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  28. ^ a b Burns, Janet W. (September 16, 2016). "LinkNYC Drops Web Access From Kiosks After Some Users Watch Porn". Forbes. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  29. ^ a b c "Service Update". CityBridge / LinkNYC. Intersection. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  30. ^ "Homeless men took over New York's public WiFi to watch porn, TV and YouTube". The Independent. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  31. ^ Puglise, Nicole (September 15, 2016). "'Bad people messed it up': misuse forces changes to New York's Wi-Fi kiosks". the Guardian. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  32. ^ a b Pereira, Ivan (October 4, 2016). "LinkNYC: Over 576,000 have used free Wi-Fi at kiosks". am New York. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  33. ^ a b Fermino, Jennifer (October 4, 2016). "LinkNYC kiosks usage rises 12% month after web browsing disabled". NY Daily News. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  34. ^ a b Hogan, Gwynne (2017-09-22). "Greenpoint LinkNYC Kiosk Acts As 'Drug Den' Concierge: Neighbors". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  35. ^ a b c Rajamani, Maya (August 30, 2016). "LinkNYC Users Watching Porn, Doing Drugs on Chelsea Sidewalks, Locals Say". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  36. ^ Huber, Linda (September 14, 2016). "Is New York City's Public Wi-Fi Actually Connecting the Poor?". motherboard.vice.com. Vice. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  37. ^ Fonrouge, Gabrielle (August 29, 2016). "Wi-Fi kiosks have become living rooms for vagrants". New York Post. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  38. ^ Small, Eddie (September 1, 2016). "LinkNYC Should Have Time Limits in Wake of Porn Complaints, Official Says". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  39. ^ a b Marcius, Chelsia; Burke, Kerry; Fermino, Jennifer (September 15, 2016). "LinkNYC kiosks still concern for locals even without web browsing". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
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