AI Introduced To NYC Subway In Order To Stop Fare Evasion
It might sound like something out of a dystopian novel, but according to public documents and government contracts, a surveillance software utilizing artificial intelligence to detect fare evaders has been discreetly implemented in some of New York City’s subway stations. The city and its transit authority have not previously acknowledged the system by name, but it employs third-party software that claims to assist law enforcement in cracking down on fare evasion.
As of May, the system was already operational in seven subway stations, as reported by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), the entity overseeing New York City’s public transportation. The MTA plans to expand the system to approximately two dozen more stations by the end of the year, with further expansion in the pipeline. The report also reveals that fare evasion cost the MTA $690 million in losses in 2022.
An MTA spokesperson, Joana Flores, asserted that the AI system does not directly alert New York police about fare evaders. However, the policy regarding this matter remains unclear. Tim Minton, the MTA’s communications director, stated that the system serves as a counting tool to track fare evasion occurrences and assess the revenue losses.
Concerns have been raised by privacy advocates about the increasing surveillance in New York City, with a proliferation of surveillance technologies such as automated license plate readers and tens of thousands of accessible cameras to the NYPD. The software in question was developed by the Spanish company AWAAIT.
Despite assurances from the MTA that the software would not be used for law enforcement purposes, privacy and civil rights advocates remain wary. They have expressed alarm over previous efforts to combat fare evasion, citing the increase in police presence at subway stations and the disproportionate arrest rates of Black and Latino riders, leading to allegations of racism.
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