A live video "portal" connecting Dublin and New York has been temporarily shut down following incidents of “inappropriate” behaviour from some people in a striking blow to an ambitious public art initiative. The closure, which occurred less than a week after its launch, was prompted by a series of disruptions including the display of offensive content and explicit imagery.
The portal, designed to foster a sense of global connectedness, featured continuous live streams displayed on circular screens in both cities.
However, its promising start was marred by several incidents, most notably the transmission of footage from the 11 September attacks on the Twin Towers in New York by a user in Dublin. This video, captured on the New York side, rapidly spread on social media, amassing millions of views.
Dublin City Council and the Flatiron Nomad Partnership, co-organisers of the project, intervened, pausing the installation to implement measures aimed at curbing misuse. The Dublin installation was turned off on Monday and Tuesday, while New York's stream was halted until early Wednesday morning.
"While we cannot control all of these actions, we are implementing some technical solutions to address this and these will go live in the next 24 hours," stated Dublin City Council on Monday.
The Flatiron Nomad Partnership echoed this sentiment, noting plans to introduce software updates designed to limit inappropriate content. Additionally, increased staffing and physical barriers will be put in place at the Flatiron Building site to prevent unauthorized interactions with the portal.
Despite the setbacks, the partnership emphasised that the majority of interactions had been positive, fulfilling the project's aim of evoking joy and connectedness. "Inappropriate behaviour has come from a very small minority," the organisation noted.
The portal was originally slated to run through the autumn season, connecting the streets of New York and Dublin in a shared visual experience. The temporary shutdown is expected to last only a few days, with operations resuming by the end of the week, according to an Instagram Story from the Flatiron Nomad Partnership.
This ambitious project is part of a broader initiative by Portals.org, which has previously established similar installations in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland. Funded by Lithuanian artist and entrepreneur Benediktas Gylys, these portals aim to bridge physical distances and foster cross-cultural understanding.
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