The inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s mayor in 2026 has sparked controversy due to the announcement of certain items that are banned from the event, particularly the Flipper Zero and Raspberry Pi devices.

According to a report by Adafruit, this ban is documented in the official FAQ for the inauguration, outlining which items attendees can bring.

In addition to the Flipper Zero and Raspberry Pi, the banned list also includes various items such as large bags, backpacks, weapons, explosives, drones, strollers, and even bicycles. The list also prohibits alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, pets (aside from service animals), and more, ensuring a secure environment during the event.

The Flipper Zero is a versatile handheld device designed for examining and testing various wireless communication protocols like RFID, NFC, Bluetooth, and infrared signals. It is a popular tool among hobbyists, security researchers, and developers engaged in penetration testing and protocol analysis.

The Raspberry Pi, on the other hand, is an affordable single-board computer that can operate standard Linux distributions and a multitude of applications. With various configurations available, they can be connected to several add-on peripherals, thus replicating functions typically expected of desktop computers.

What is particularly striking is that both the Flipper Zero and Raspberry Pi are specifically mentioned in the banned items list, unlike other items categorized more generally as electronics or dangerous goods.

Devices like the Flipper Zero have garnered attention from government officials due to fears regarding their misuse in car theft, cyber breaches, and other illegal activities. Some jurisdictions have even considered proposals for restrictions or seizures of these devices. Though many such efforts have since been rolled back.

In the retail sector, the Flipper Zero has faced bans as well, notably on Amazon, due to concerns it could be exploited for illegal activities like card skimming.

This specific ban during the inauguration raises eyebrows, especially since other high-functionality electronics like laptops and smartphones aren’t mentioned as banned items.

Security expert Stefan Klatt commented on the situation, saying, “In addition to conventional weapons like firearms and drones, two IT devices—the Raspberry Pi and the Flipper Zero—are specifically identified on the prohibited list.” He queried, “How do you communicate ignorance without actually saying it?”

Notably, modern laptops can run penetration-testing distributions such as Kali Linux, and smartphones can utilize advanced security tools like Kali NetHunter.

The event organizers have yet to clarify why the Flipper Zero and Raspberry Pi were singled out among other electronics.

BleepingComputer has reached out to the Mamdani campaign for further information and will provide updates pending any response.

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