NYC-Dublin ‘Portal’ to Shut Down Temporarily After ‘Inappropriate’ Behavior
The interactive public art installation known as “The Portal,” which allowed people in New York City and Dublin to experience real-time glimpses into each other’s lives, has been temporarily suspended due to inappropriate behavior. The livestreaming screens, initially hailed as a way to foster global interconnectedness, were unfortunately marred by incidents that included an OnlyFans model exposing herself, Dubliners displaying swastikas, and images of the Twin Towers burning on 9/11 being shown on the Dublin screen.
The decision to suspend the “Portal” came after the incidents were widely shared on social media, prompting officials in both cities to take action. The screens, which only broadcast video without audio, were deactivated Monday night and were expected to remain down until further notice while city officials and the exhibit organizers work on finding a solution to the problem. The screens were reportedly back up on Tuesday morning but were taken down again later in the evening.
A spokesperson for the Dublin City Council said that organizers are exploring “possible technical solutions” to address the inappropriate behavior. The displays are expected to return later in the week, but the preferred solution, which involved blurring inappropriate content, was deemed unsatisfactory. The “Portals.org” team is now considering other options.
Despite the incidents, organizers stressed that the “overwhelming majority” of people interacting with the city’s portal have behaved appropriately. Around-the-clock security and barriers have been in place at the New York location since the exhibit launched. Organizers encourage people to be respectful, stating that their goal is to “open a window between far away places and cultures that allows people to interact freely with one another.”
On Tuesday morning, crowds on both sides of the portals were mostly well-behaved, with some waving, making heart signs, or taking selfies. However, there were isolated incidents, including a man extending two middle fingers behind a group of school children on the Dublin side and a woman on the New York side holding up a sign inviting Dubliners to join her in a TikTok dance. The Irish crowd reportedly did not react favorably to the dance request.
Residents on both sides of the Atlantic had mixed reactions to the incidents and the suspension of the “Portal.” Some Dubliners expressed concern about the placement of the Dublin screen in a busy downtown area, while a Manhattan resident dismissed the inappropriate behavior as harmless. Another New York resident, originally from Dublin, said she found the installation to be a sweet and unscripted way to connect with people across the ocean, as long as everyone behaves appropriately.
