In a bid to address unruly behavior, Dublin authorities have announced the temporary shutdown of the interactive webcam portal connecting the city with New York. The decision comes after incidents of inappropriate behavior were observed, prompting the Dublin city council to intervene.

According to the council's statement released on Tuesday, the team behind the Portal art sculpture, which has garnered global attention since its launch on 8 May, has been working on technical solutions to tackle the inappropriate actions of a small minority of individuals. The council had hoped to implement a solution involving blurring, but it proved to be unsatisfactory.

In light of this setback, the Portals.org team, responsible for the interactive webcam, is exploring alternative options. Consequently, the portal will be temporarily switched off starting at 10pm Irish time tonight, with the expectation that it will be reactivated later this week, as stated by the team at Portals.org.

The art installation, designed by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, features massive screens measuring 2.4 meters (8ft) in diameter and weighing 3.5 tonnes. The New York portal is situated at the junction of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, while its counterpart in Dublin stands at the corner of North Earl Street and O'Connell Street in the heart of the city.

Although the vast majority of interactions with the Dublin Portal have been positive, with people waving, smiling, dancing, miming, and holding up humorous signs, there have been instances of misbehavior. Some individuals on the Irish side have thrown eggs, exposed body parts, and displayed provocative images, such as swastikas and the twin towers burning on 9/11. The incidents have attracted significant attention, leading the New York Post to dub the portal the "portal to hell".

The Dublin city council emphasized in its statement that the actions of a few should not overshadow the positive interactions happening through the portal. It acknowledged that most people have behaved appropriately, engaging in fleeting and playful exchanges as envisioned by the authorities when the project was launched as a symbol of unity and connection between cities.

Efforts to address the inappropriate behavior include technical measures to blur images, although specific details were not provided by the council. However, concerns have been raised regarding the impact these incidents may have on tourism in Ireland. Amy Donohoe expressed her concerns in an Irish Independent column, stating that such behavior could potentially deter tourists from visiting if it represents the country in a negative light.

As the authorities continue to explore solutions to promote a safer and more positive experience through the webcam portal, it remains to be seen how the project will evolve. The Dublin city council is committed to restoring the interactive connection between Dublin and New York as soon as possible.