Buzzfeed is reporting that the New York City government has allowed outdoor media company Titan to install hundreds of advertising beacons (small radio transmitters that may be used to track people's movements) in pay phones around the city. Beacons may be utilized to track your movements via cell phone for not just behavioral advertising, but also for nefarious spying purposes that may put cell phone users in harms way. Interestingly, there has been no public notice about this program so all the facts are hard to come by.
When this type of technology is deployed in a public space without the community's input it is very troubling. After hearing about this new program, the New York American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman denounced it. As a former New Yorker and regular visitor, I am very concerned about this development.
Should Titan (or any other company) have been allowed to install these beacons on public property in the first place? Should Titan be required to publicly list (i.e. transparency) where each of its beacons are located? Should Titan be required to place large signs next to their beacon locations so those who walk nearby are notified of this program? Will consumers who have been tracked by Titan without their knowledge or consent soon sue Titan or New York City for breaching their personal privacy? These are legitimate questions and concerns that require a national conversation.
For those who are care about their personal privacy and security, now is the time to stand up and be counted before it is too late.
UPDATE:
According to Buzzfeed, New York City has asked Titan to remove its beacons from city owned property and this may occur in the next several days. This 180 demonstrates the power of social media because within hours of this matter being reported on by Buzzfeed the beacons in question are planning to be removed.
Will Titan be required to answer the following questions: What type of data did its beacons collect on public property? From how many people did Titan's beacons collect information from? How much data did it collect? Will Titan delete all the data it has collected on public property? What were the start dates and what will be the exact end date of this program? For New York City, who authorized this program without public input? Will the public be asked the next time this or a similar issue occurs?
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