The two-way live-streaming portal, providing a continuous view of New York City from Dublin, has been temporarily shut down due to instances of “improper conduct”. This has prompted a need for technical measures to rectify the situation.
Located on North Earl Street, the portal overlooks Dublin’s O’Connell Street, offering a panorama of the General Post Office and the Spire. The Dublin City Council stated that the Dublin and New York City Portals had garnered immense positive reception since their inception a week ago, with an outpouring of enthusiasm on social media, extensive global media coverage and a noticeable increase in visitors to North Earl Street and O’Connell Street.
Praising the majority of interactions over the live-stream portal, the Dublin City Council cited instances of dance moves being exhibited and friendships being forged – and even a successful marriage proposal came to fruition. However, not all uses of the portal have been positive, with “improper conduct” happening over the portal, according to the council.
They added, “Regretfully, a small fraction of individuals have engaged in unsuitable behaviour, which has been amplified via social media. Although it’s impossible to control all actions, we’re initiating some technical solutions to manage this which will be operational within the next 24 hours.”
The council promised to maintain vigilance, along with their New York partners, over the coming days to ensure a positive experience continues to emanate from the portals for both cities and the rest of the world.
The origins of the portal are traced back to Benediktas Gylys, a Lithuanian artist. It is a fruit of collaboration between various organisations including the Dublin City Council and the EU Capital of Smart Tourism. Scheduled programming is planned, such as cultural performances at each city’s portal, with the start date forecasted for mid-May, marked by a visual program celebrating the New York Design Week Festival.
Following the portal’s temporary shut down, the Portals Organisation stressed it never intended to dictate how people should interact with the portals. They strive to create a window into distant places and cultures, facilitating free interaction between people. Promoting respect, it noticed that the vast majority of experiences have been positive.