The portal connecting New York to Dublin has reopened under new restrictions days after inappropriate behaviour forced its closure.
The art installation, which are public sculptures that livestream between the two cities, launched early this month and quickly amassed popularity.
Videos began circulating online showing people flashing the livestream, appearing to take drugs and one person displaying the 9/11 terror attack to viewers in New York.
Dublin City Council has announced the livestream has “reawakened” under specific hours of operation: 6am to 4pm in New York City and 11am to 9pm in Dublin.
There will also be added design features to assist with crowd management and measures to prevent more inappropriate behaviour.
“We have taken steps to limit instances of people stepping on the portal and holding phones up to the camera lens,” the council said in a statement.
“The Portals.org team has implemented a proximity-based solution.
“Now, if individuals step on the portal and obstruct the camera, it will trigger a blurring of the livestream for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic.”
At the New York site, there are security guards on patrol during operating hours.
“Additionally, fencing has been installed in front of the New York Portal and more signage and spacing decals have been added to assist with crowd management and guide visitors to the optimal spots for interacting with the Portal,” the council added.
The council said an overwhelming majority of the visitors have experienced the joy and connectedness that the works invite people to have.
It estimated the portal has attracted tens of thousands of visitors and gathered nearly two billion impressions online.
The founder of the company which installed the art, Portals.org, Benediktas Gylys estimated the portal has reached 500 million people in the short time it has been live.
“As humans we are creating the Portals experience together,” he said in a statement.
“I invite local communities not only to enjoy but to care about their Portals and how other community members are approaching the sculptures.”
