Is there any right to privacy?

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Gene Spafford <spaf () cerias purdue edu>
Date: October 16, 2005 8:53:09 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Is there any right to privacy?


Driving a taxi in a major metropolitan area is a dangerous  
occupation.  The drivers don't know anything about the fares they  
pick up, but they are often required by law to pick up any fare -- no  
matter how suspicious or disreputable they appear.   Then they are  
supposed to drive them somewhere, that may be an abandoned area or  
one with armed confederates.  In most cities they are seldom  
separated from their passengers or the street by bullet-proof  
partitions -- and large caliber handguns shoot right through the seat  
back. (Heck, some knives or ice picks go right through, too.)    The  
cab company charges a fairly high premium for the cab rental, and the  
driver needs to pay for gasoline out of his/her pocket.  Drivers also  
generally need to fund their own insurance and retirement plans.    
Their margin can be thin, or negative on bad days or when gas is  
expensive.  Throw in a robbery, someone using a stolen credit card,  
or someone who jumps without paying, and the driver may be in the red  
for days.    It is not a particularly wonderful occupation.

If I were a cab driver, having a camera in place with a reasonably  
visible sign to that effect might make me feel a little more  
confident and might make some potential robbers a little less  
hesitant.    They could have clandestine cameras without a notice,  
but that doesn't serve to deter the robbers and people who are going  
to cut and run without paying the meter.

Of course, that says nothing about what else is done with the  
pictures.  If they are kept indefinitely or regularly turned over to  
law enforcement with a warrant, I would find that disturbing.    
However, I do not begrudge the taxi drivers seeking some additional  
security for themselves.

One solution is to have a visible, posted policy about retention and  
distribution (if any) of those photos.  Having policy compliance  
audited in some way would be good, too -- something that the cab  
commission in the individual cities could pursue.

Of course, you can always rent a private car, take the bus, walk, or  
seek a cab without a camera.   But don't be so quick to condemn the  
cabbies who are trying to make a living and stay unhurt in the  
process.  They probably don't understand the privacy concerns, just  
as many reading this list probably haven't experienced the dangers of  
driving a cab in a major city.


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