A "portal" that links New York City and Dublin has been reopened after it was briefly closed due to several inappropriate incidents. "The Portal" is an art installation that allows people in downtown Dublin and New York City to interact with each other in real time.
One large circular screen was installed next to the Flatiron Building in New York, and its counterpart was installed on O'Connell Street in Dublin. Each screen displays a live video stream from the other city.
When the installation first opened, it attracted tens of thousands of visitors in both cities. However, it also became a source of controversy as people exhibited bad behaviors on camera. In one viral incident, an Onlyfans model flashed the camera. In another incident, a man mooned the camera. People were also seen doing or pretending to do drugs and making obscene and offensive gestures.
On May 14, less than a week after it opened, officials decided to temporarily shut it down. It reopened on Sunday (May 19), with added security features to help prevent people's bad behavior from being broadcast across the Atlantic Ocean.
The installation is open daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. in New York City and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Dublin.