S.T.O.P. Expresses Concern At MTA Plan To Phase Out MetroCard Machines

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Expresses Concern At MTA Plan To Phase Out MetroCard Machines (New York, NY, 9/7/2022) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, expresses concern at the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority’s announcement to phase out MetroCard vending machines in 2023, replacing them with OMNY vending machines. OMNY is a tap-to-pay method linked to subway riders’ mobile devices, contactless credit cards, and billing and location data. The civil rights group expressed concern at the lack of clarity on cash payment options for OMNY and the $5 fee to buy an OMNY card, calling on MTA to ensure transit accessibility and digital privacy for low-income New Yorkers.   SEE: Curbed - We’ll Miss You, MetroCard Machine https://www.curbed.com/2022/08/goodbye-metrocard-machine-friendly-interface.html   The Verge - The NYC Subway’s new tap-to-pay system has a hidden cost – rider data https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/16/21175699/mta-omny-privacy-security-smartphone-identifier-location-nyc “We’ll miss our iconic, colorful MetroCard machines, but any loss of their accessibility and privacy would be truly unacceptable,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Communications Director Will Owen. “It’s unclear how many OMNY machines will allow cash payment, marginalizing low-income New Yorkers from essential transit service. The MTA must guarantee that New Yorkers can use cash to buy subway, bus, and other transit fare at every single transit station across the five boroughs. MTA also must safeguard all data collected by OMNY to ensure riders’ most sensitive information doesn’t get into the hands of police, ICE, and hackers.”   The announcement comes as arrests for subway fare evasion skyrocket in the city, disproportionately targeting low-income and BIPOC communities. OMNY records each subway fare tap and point of entry, retaining extensive rider location and billing data that is readily available to law enforcement and hackers. In 2019, S.T.O.P. released OMNY Surveillance Oh My, a research report detailing OMNY’s expansion of MTA surveillance and unique threat to undocumented New Yorkers.   SEE: CityLab - Arrests for Low-Level Crimes Climb Under NYC Mayor Eric Adams https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/nyc-s-rise-of-low-level-arrests-worry-critics-of-broken-windows-era   S.T.O.P. Report – OMNY Surveillance Oh My: New York City’s Expanding Transit Surveillance Apparatus https://www.stopspying.org/omny The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color. -- END -- CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.