- Raspberry Pi and Flipper Zero join the list of prohibited items, including weapons, explosives and drones
- They stand out for being featured, not categorized like other items listed.
- It seems there were concerns about network security.
On the official list of prohibited items for Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration as mayor of New York City this week were Flipper Zero and Raspberry Pi devices.
However, unlike most banned items, these two pieces of technology were identified by their names, not simply grouped into a broader category like “computers” or “wireless devices,” suggesting something bigger could be at play.
Flipper Zero devices have already come under fire from the government and regulators for potential misuse, such as car theft and network breaches.
The New York mayoral inauguration banned these two pieces of technology
Raspberry Pi was probably on the list because New York City may have wanted to ban small, programmable devices that have been associated with hacking or radio work. There is also a case of guilt by association, as the Raspberry Pi often appears in the same circles as the Flipper Zero even though they are not technically associated.
That said, an ultra-small computer like the Raspberry Pi could be used for wireless jamming or credential cloning alongside the work done by a Flipper Zero.
Still, smartphones and laptops were not included on the banned list despite being able to do everything a Raspberry Pi can do, and more.
“Once a Raspberry Pi is banned, a smartphone trumps security despite being much more powerful, more connected, and more capable of surveillance or disruption,” Adafruit’s Phillip Torrone wrote, criticizing the list and raising the idea that it could have been generated by AI.
New York City has not officially given a reason for these specific banned items, however, Torrone is concerned that other devices may be wrongly flagged next.
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