TL;DR
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani invited residents to a public block party for his inauguration but included Raspberry Pi on a list of prohibited items. The ban — reported by maker community Adafruit — also covers devices such as the Flipper Zero and drew criticism as both overbroad and technically ineffective.
What happened
Zohran Mamdani, New York’s mayor-elect, invited city residents to a block party to mark his inauguration and circulated a list of items that attendees may not bring. The list, first highlighted by maker community Adafruit, names single-board computers including the Raspberry Pi alongside explosives, weapons, drones, laser pointers and the Flipper Zero. Reporting notes the Flipper Zero is a compact, battery-powered gadget with multiple radios and modules such as RFID and NFC that can be used for legitimate experimenting but also for illicit tasks like cloning access cards. Observers argued a Raspberry Pi could be used to perform similar or broader electronic attacks, though its form factor makes it more conspicuous. Adafruit objected that singling out Raspberry Pi damages a platform widely used in education and the arts, and pointed out that smartphones can be programmed to carry out comparable misuse, calling into question how effective a ban on specific devices will be.
Why it matters
- Security measures at large public events may target specific consumer electronics, affecting hobbyists and educators.
- Banning broad classes of devices can harm brands and communities that use them for legitimate education and artistic projects.
- Targeting specific tools may be tactically limited because common devices like smartphones can be repurposed for misuse.
- Public perception of small, multifunctional gadgets influences policy and enforcement choices at civic events.
Key facts
- The prohibition was tied to an inauguration block party hosted by mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
- Adafruit reported the prohibited-items list and highlighted the inclusion of Raspberry Pi.
- Other banned items listed include explosives, weapons, drones, laser pointers and the Flipper Zero.
- The Flipper Zero is described as a battery-powered device with multiple radios and modules including RFID and NFC.
- Flipper Zero makers have noted the device can be used to clone access cards and emulate electronic tags.
- Reporters noted a Raspberry Pi could perform similar attacks but is generally more conspicuous than a pocket-sized device.
- Adafruit criticized the Raspberry Pi ban as unfair to educators and artists who commonly use the platform.
- Adafruit also argued the ban is of limited effectiveness because smartphones can be programmed to carry out similar mischief.
What to watch next
- Whether event organizers or the mayor-elect’s office revise or clarify the prohibited-items list — not confirmed in the source.
- Any official response or statement from the Raspberry Pi Foundation addressing the ban — not confirmed in the source.
- How the ban will be enforced at the event, including screening or confiscation policies — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Raspberry Pi: A family of affordable single-board computers commonly used for education, hobby projects and prototyping.
- Flipper Zero: A compact, handheld multi-tool designed for exploring and interacting with wireless and access-control technologies.
- RFID: Radio-frequency identification, a technology that uses electromagnetic fields to read and capture data stored on tags attached to objects.
- NFC: Near-field communication, a short-range wireless protocol used for contactless data exchange between devices at close proximity.
Reader FAQ
Did Mayor-elect Mamdani ban Raspberry Pi from his inauguration party?
According to reporting, the prohibited-items list for the block party includes the Raspberry Pi.
Why was the Raspberry Pi included on the banned list?
The source reports security concerns about misuse of electronic devices generally, but an official detailed rationale for singling out Raspberry Pi is not provided.
Is the Flipper Zero banned too, and why?
Yes. The list includes the Flipper Zero; reporting notes the device has multiple radios and modules such as RFID and NFC that can be repurposed for cloning access cards or other interference.
Will smartphones be banned at the event?
The source does not report any blanket ban on smartphones and notes Adafruit’s point that phones can be programmed to perform similar misuse.
SECURITY New York’s incoming mayor bans Raspberry Pi at his inauguration party Zohran Mamdani appears not to understand that smartphones can be used for evil Simon Sharwood Wed 31 Dec 2025 // 00:31 UTC…
Sources
- New York’s incoming mayor bans Raspberry Pi at his inauguration party
- New York's incoming mayor bans Raspberry Pi at …
- You're invited to the 2026 Inauguration of a New Era
- Mayoral Inauguration · NYC311 – NYC.gov
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