“We’ve heard a great deal of concern from all corners of the city about the misuse of these kiosks for lewd and nefarious purposes, and today’s announcement that web browsing services will be disabled on LinkNYC kiosks is a step in the right direction”, he said in a statement. But the kiosks’ debut has been overshadowed by incidents involving homeless people allegedly squatting by and hogging kiosks. According to the city, 400 Links have been installed in three boroughs, and have been used more than 21 million times by almost 475,000 New Yorkers and visitors.
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While web browsing is temporarily suspended, other features of the LinkNYC kiosks – like free Wi-Fi, free phone calls, maps, device charging, and the ability to dial 311 or 911 – will still be available. The kiosks were never intended for anyone’s extended, personal use and we want to ensure that Links are accessible and a welcome addition to New York City neighborhoods.
In July, “LinkNYC responded to the spate of public masturbation by adding a filtering system” to limit access to porn, Gothamist reported at the time. LinkNYC added that almost 475,000 individuals have used it “and they have used it more than 21 million times”.
Operators of LinkNYC are removing web browsing from all kiosk tablets in the city in response to complaints that some users have been viewing pornography and others have monopolized the service.
LinkNYC is asking for feedback-you can email [email protected].
LinkNYC is looking into possible solutions to the problem, including implementing time limits, which Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz called for in a letter to the city last month.
LinkNYC is a valuable public service for this city, already giving almost half a million people access to the fastest Wi-Fi publicly available in NYC and providing tens of thousands of free phone calls, device charging, and directions every single week. Since launching earlier this year to much fanfare by NY mayo Bill de Blasio, the hundreds of Internet kiosks created to replace the city’s pay phones have been a source of much handwringing among city officials, particularly along 8 Avenue in Manhattan.
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LinkNYC kiosks throughout the city will no longer have access to internet browsing.
