#404Media Tracked an #NYC #Subway Rider's Movements with an #MTA ‘Feature’
“Obviously this is a great fit for abusers,” - #domesticviolence & #cybersecurity expert
With their consent, they entered the rider’s #creditcard—data often easy to buy from criminal marketplaces, or which might be trivial for an abusive partner to obtain—and entered it in #OMNY, subway’s contactless payments system. Out came rider’s travel history for past 7 days, no other verification required.
https://www.404media.co/i-tracked-nyc-subway-rider-home-omny-mta/

What a nothingburger of a scare-story this is. First off, getting someone’s credit card number is not done easy task, you won’t just be able to casually track someone. Second, if you register your credit card on an OMNY account it doesn’t let you look up the ride history on the card without logging in to the account so it’s pretty easy to protect yourself #mta #omny https://www.404media.co/i-tracked-nyc-subway-rider-home-omny-mta/

Here's a great piece from @josephcox as he followed a #MTA user's movements using #OMNY's track user history feature where he churned out the rider’s travel history for the past 7 days using the target's credit card information, no other verification required. https://www.404media.co/i-tracked-nyc-subway-rider-home-omny-mta/

It echoes the well documented #privacy and #humanrights issues that OMNY has over the years and it will be a sad day for privacy once the MetroCard fades out. https://www.stopspying.org/omny
https://www.fastcompany.com/90788367/the-mtas-switch-to-omny-machines-is-a-privacy-nightmare

The #OMNY context -- #transit agencies worldwide trying to move to contactless fare payment -- is fascinating. How do we ensure access for unbanked or privacy-conscious riders? Agencies save money because they need less fare-related infrastructure (e.g. kiosks) but lose the "float" of pre-paid fares that haven't been used yet. Deferred transaction reconciliation enables faster turnstile throughput, but risks nonpayment...

https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-articles/78096/open-loop-payments-united-states/

https://littlepay.com/open-loop-emv-versus-closed-loop-smart-cards-for-fare-collection/

https://www.mobility-payments.com/2023/05/12/open-loop-leaning-panel-sees-role-for-closed-loop-payments-in-transit/

Cubic Transportation Systems, a vendor:

https://www.amny.com/transit/omny-machines-rollout/ (April 2023)

'the main contractor on the project, Cubic — which also developed the MetroCard — “has not provided sufficient resources” to manage OMNY operations'....

https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/7/31/23814209/omny-fare-hike-mta-early-glitch

'The 15-cent fare hike was supposed to kick in Aug. 20 but arrived early, the MTA said, because of “prematurely implemented software changes” by Cubic Transportation Systems, the contractor that developed the #OMNY fare-payment system.'

#NYC

somehow doubting now that the #MTA can install #OMNY vending machines everywhere by september

Good morning y'all!

The #MTA has a customer satisfaction survey out: https://bit.ly/mtacustomerscountsurvey

Will they actually listen? MTA's track record isn't exactly great, but I took the survey anyway.

Taking the survey also gives you a chance to win a $50 #OMNY card!

No #OMNY on #NICEBus (yet?) #FareIntegration

So I finally got tired of PLEASE SWIPE CARD AGAIN, and signed up for #OMNY . Which meant turning Near Field Communication #NFC on, on my phone, but it has "only when phone is unlocked", which I can live with.

A nice feature.

Eventually we'll all be walking around with dozens of random #ports open all the time, but I can resist a little...

Did my day of service yesterday.cutting vines on the Bronx River. I went too early (only an hour) but in doing so found out just how fast that #Bx12SBS can move when there are no cars in its way. The #OMNY readers are enabled at all doors.

RT @STOPSpyingNY@twitter.com

Breaking: S.T.O.P. announces concerns about @MTA@twitter.com's roll-out of #OMNY fare payment system. Calls on @MTA@twitter.com to protect #transit riders: "“Commuting is expensive already; it shouldn’t also cost us our privacy." https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2019/5/31/stop-stop-concerned-about-omny-roll-out-implores-mta-to-protect-riders-privacy #NYC #Subway #Bus #Privacy #NYC

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/STOPSpyingNY/status/1134449850593026048