The installation of these systems has raised both privacy and security concerns. Not only can private conversations be picked up by the systems, but if they are not properly secured, hackers can use the systems to track the position of buses.
Infographic courtesy of The Daily
Transit officials in San Francisco are proceeding with a $5.9 million contract to add audio surveillance systems to 357 buses and trolley cars. Funded entirely by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, the contract can be expanded to 600 more vehicles, according to Wired.
Baltimore, Md., intended to install audio surveillance systems on public buses in 2009, but abandoned the effort due to protests from civil liberties groups who claimed that such systems violated constitutional protections and wiretapping laws. Following assurances from the state attorney general that signage announcing the surveillance system would help address these complaints, the city is now moving forward with audio surveillance system installation on 350 public buses.