I Tracked an NYC Subway Rider's Movements with an MTA ‘Feature’

· Aug 30, 2023 at 9:00 AM

“Obviously this is a great fit for abusers,” an expert on domestic violence and cybersecurity said.

Some OMNY-enabled turnstyles. Image: 404 Media

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In the mid-afternoon one Saturday earlier this month, the target got on the New York subway. I knew what station they entered the subway at and at what specific time. They then entered another station a few hours later. If I had kept monitoring this person, I would have figured out the subway station they often start a journey at, which is near where they live. I would also know what specific time this person may go to the subway each day.

During all this monitoring, I wasn’t anywhere near the rider. I didn’t even need to see them with my own eyes. Instead, I was sitting inside an apartment, following their movements through a feature on a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website, which runs the New York City subway system.