- The Raspberry Pi and Flipper Zero join the list of banned items, including weapons, explosives and drones
- They stand out to be featured – not categorized like other listed items
- It appears there were concerns over network security
On the official list of banned items for Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral inauguration in New York this week were Flipper Zero and Raspberry Pi devices.
But unlike most of the banned items, these two pieces of technology were highlighted by their names, not just grouped under a broader category like “computers” or “wireless devices,” suggesting something bigger could be at play.
Flipper Zero devices have already been criticized by the government and regulators over potential misuse, such as car theft and network breaches.
New York’s mayoral inauguration banned these two pieces of technology
The Raspberry Pi was probably on the list because New York City might have wanted to ban small and programmable devices that have been associated with hacking or radio work. There’s also a case of guilt by association, with the Raspberry Pi often appearing in the same circles as the Flipper Zero despite not being technically associated.
That said, an ultra-small computer like the Raspberry Pi could be used for wireless interference or credential cloning in conjunction with work done by a Flipper Zero.
However, smartphones and laptops were not included in the banned list despite being able to do everything a Raspberry Pi can do and more.
“Once a Raspberry Pi is banned, a smartphone sails through security despite being far more powerful, more connected, and more capable of monitoring or disrupting,” wrote Phillip Torrone of Adafruit, criticizing the list and floating the idea that it could have been AI-generated.
New York City has not officially given a reason for these specific banned items, but Torrone worries that other devices could be misdesignated next time.
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