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> unless you would prefer visual recognition software Given they already have multiple cameras covering platforms from multiple angles, this seems like it would have been on the list.
When TfL have previously suggested visual recognition software, the media exploded. So they took a step back.
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When TfL have previously suggested visual recognition software, the media exploded. So they took a step back.
I suppose calling it "visual recognition software" invokes a kind of "facial recognition and tracking" vibe. I'm thinking more of the "is this platform crowded" visual recognition stuff - "How much of the reference image of an empty platform do we have today?" kind of thing.
The data that has been collected is great (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/review-tfl-wifi-pilot.pdf) and not realistically available in any other way. The only data stored is (hashed) MAC and timestamp. It's taking place on a system where most users are already tracked semi-anonymously using contactless cards or Oyster cards, and is trivially avoidable by disabling wifi.
This seems like a good trade-off.
That is a pretty misleading headline - this isn't asking to see their text messages or something like that; It's just tracking when and where a MAC address is seen in order to work out traffic trends. In fact some of the data looks really interesting: https://imgur.com/Hx6mDSm.jpg (credit to bcraven for the link) Most large public WiFi deploys come with this capability already included (albeit normally with an additi…
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You do realise this is a government body that runs public transport, right? Public transport which is notoriously bad at making profits, all around the world. Sorry, but this comes across as a bit of a silly conspiracy theory, by people who can't be bothered doing basic research.
End result != motivation Bad at making profit doesn't necessarly means you're not-for-profit. Also from the article: "What they told people at the time was we're going to use this data to improve services. But now thanks to [Sky News] investigative reporting, we find out that it's partly to improve the services, but also it's to exploit people's data for revenue, doing advertising."
Sky News hasn't really done any investigative reporting here, the information is publicly available and most interested people knew about this project years ago.
That is a pretty misleading headline - this isn't asking to see their text messages or something like that; It's just tracking when and where a MAC address is seen in order to work out traffic trends. In fact some of the data looks really interesting: https://imgur.com/Hx6mDSm.jpg (credit to bcraven for the link) Most large public WiFi deploys come with this capability already included (albeit normally with an additi…
Don't Android and iOS randomize the MAC addr these days? Are they investing in something that's going to have a very short life?
This is why I switch my wifi radio off every time I leave home. Especially when going to travel via the tubes. And this is why the "50-shades of wifi off" of ios 11 is so idiotic. Don't have iOS 11 yet so don't actually know how many steps I need to take.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I suppose calling it "visual recognition software" invokes a kind of "facial recognition and tracking" vibe. I'm thinking more of the "is this platform crowded" visual recognition stuff - "How much of the reference image of an empty platform do we have today?" kind of thing.
Without recognising single persons, it would be much harder. You would have to consider that a person twice as close to the camera takes up 2x as much room as someone 2x further away. Generally, it can also be very hard to see people on a crowded platform and you can almost double the amount of people on the platform and see as little of the platform after as you did before. Wifi will probably generate better custome…
I would suggest that "overcrowding" was achieved well before that point though.
> Wifi will probably generate better customers in that case.
Assumes that one person equals one Wifi though which isn't necessarily the case.
> you are still processing visual data and that you will get a lot of media attention
Perhaps. It would definitely require a deft hand on the PR tiller.
That is a pretty misleading headline - this isn't asking to see their text messages or something like that; It's just tracking when and where a MAC address is seen in order to work out traffic trends. In fact some of the data looks really interesting: https://imgur.com/Hx6mDSm.jpg (credit to bcraven for the link) Most large public WiFi deploys come with this capability already included (albeit normally with an additi…
* in the image's case, those percentages would do it
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Without recognising single persons, it would be much harder. You would have to consider that a person twice as close to the camera takes up 2x as much room as someone 2x further away. Generally, it can also be very hard to see people on a crowded platform and you can almost double the amount of people on the platform and see as little of the platform after as you did before. Wifi will probably generate better custome…
> you can almost double the amount of people on the platform and see as little of the platform after as you did before I would suggest that "overcrowding" was achieved well before that point though. > Wifi will probably generate better customers in that case. Assumes that one person equals one Wifi though which isn't necessarily the case. > you are still processing visual data and that you will get a lot of media att…
2. 1 Person != 1 Wifi, but if 1W = 0.2P, you can still get a good estimate.
3. TfL is a large bargaining chip for the mayor - no mayor would even consider risking a PR disaster like the one that could come from this.