The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is actively considering advanced tools, including artificial intelligence, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance safety across the subway network, officials revealed during a Monday briefing.
Michael Kemper, the MTA’s Chief Security Officer, explained that the agency is experimenting with technology such as AI to detect potentially dangerous behavior before it escalates into a crisis. “We’re studying and piloting technology like AI to sense potential trouble or problematic behavior on our subway platforms,” he said.
At a recent safety committee meeting, Kemper elaborated on how the new system might operate, describing scenarios where erratic or aggressive behavior would automatically trigger alerts. “If someone is acting out, irrational, it could potentially—and again this is what we’re exploring—it could potentially trigger an alert that would trigger a response from either security and or the police department beforehand, proactively,” he said.
The MTA is collaborating with several tech firms to test “predictive tools” that evaluate surveillance footage in real time. The aim is to spot warning signs and allow authorities to intervene before any unlawful activity occurs.
But not everyone is on board. Albert Fox Cahn, who leads the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, expressed deep skepticism about the use of AI in public surveillance. “This sort of surveillance is pseudoscience. It’s creepy, it’s invasive and I just am really outraged that the MTA is going to give our data to a private company like this, in such a dubious way,” he said.
Cahn warned that AI might misinterpret benign behavior—such as expressive talking or dancing—as threatening, potentially resulting in wrongful suspicion. He also voiced unease about privacy violations, possible racial profiling, and the vague boundaries around how long the data is retained and who has access to it. “I don’t know how long they’re allowed to keep it or what they’re allowed to do with it,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s allowed to be sent overseas or if it’s sold to third parties. It’s a real violation of trust.”
The MTA’s AI initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster rider confidence and demonstrate to both New Yorkers and federal authorities that public transit remains secure. Governor Kathy Hochul has backed the increased focus on subway safety.
A string of alarming incidents, such as last week’s fatal stabbing at the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall/Chambers Street station and numerous unprovoked platform attacks in recent years, has intensified public concern. These events have painted the subway as increasingly unpredictable.
New York Police Department statistics show that 573 felony assaults were reported in the subway system in 2024—the highest figure in more than 25 years. Ten individuals were killed on the subway last year.
This latest push for AI implementation follows pressure from the Trump administration, which warned the MTA that it risked losing federal funding unless it presented a comprehensive plan to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outlining how it intends to curb crime. In response, the MTA submitted detailed information about its security proposals.
{Matzav.com}