Slate: Cities Can See Where You’re Taking That Scooter

Since September 2018, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has been collecting information about individual dockless vehicles such as scooters and electric bikes through a digital tool called MDS, or Mobility Data Specification. MDS information plays a pivotal role in shaping policy decisions such as where to place bike lanes and allows the city to standardize data collection among mobility companies. MDS also allows two-way communication of data between the city and the private mobility companies. At the same time, it is controversial, as many opposers such as the company Uber view MDS as a breach of privacy. For instance, there is the concern that law enforcement or hackers may access the data to track people. For the full article, click here.