Great conversation, everyone! Thoughtful, respectful debate is one of the best parts of BetaNYC. I was curious about the question of are the cab drivers "opting in" to their data being collected so did a little digging. 

The technology system that logs all trips, allows passengers to pay by credit card, etc. is dictated as part of the TLC official rules, which all taxi drivers agree to. See pages 56-59: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/rule_book_current_chapter_54.pdf Also on the NYC rules site: http://rules.cityofnewyork.us/content/section-54-24-vehicle-trip-records It explicitly states what data is being collected. 

I had a hard time finding any place that dictates how the data is used, other than stating it goes into a database. Interestingly, cab drivers were manually recording trip data before the GPS devices were added. 

Recently, cab drivers have been upset with the TLC, saying the data is being used to punish them, claiming it is against the 4th amendment, and filing a lawsuit against the city. The case is currently being appealed, but the legal documents are an interesting read. The decision from the United States District Court in January: http://www.capitalnewyork.com/sites/default/files/GPS%20Decision.pdf and the appeal document from May: https://www.rutherford.org/files_images/general/05-08-2014_HEN-Appeal-Brief.pdf

Kate Crawford also just tweeted this article by two Princeton professors on re-identification in data: http://randomwalker.info/publications/no-silver-bullet-de-identification.pdf

"Data privacy is a hard problem. Data custodians face a choice between roughly three alternatives: sticking with the old habit of de-identification and hoping for the best; turning to emerging technologies like differential privacy that involve some trade-offs in utility and convenience; and using legal agreements to limit the flow and use of sensitive data. These solutions aren’t fully satisfactory, either individually or in combination, nor is any one approach the best in all circumstances.

Change is difficult. When faced with the challenge of fostering data science while preventing privacy risks, the urge to preserve the status quo is understandable. However, this is incompatible with the reality of re-identification science. If a “best of both worlds” solution exists, deidentification is certainly not that solution. Instead of looking for a silver bullet, policy makers must confront hard choices."

Ariel Kennan

2013 Code for America Fellow

[address removed]

www.arielkennan.com

@arielmai

--
Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to everyone on this mailing list ([address removed])

This message was sent by Ariel ([address removed]) from #betaNYC, a Code for America Brigade for NYC.
To learn more about Ariel, visit his/her member profile

To report this message or block the sender, please click here
Set my mailing list to email me As they are sent | In one daily email | Don't send me mailing list messages

Meetup, POB 4668 #37895 NY NY USA 10163 | [address removed]