MTA Explores AI for Enhanced Transit Safety Amid Privacy Concerns

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance safety in New York City's subway and bus systems. This initiative involves proposals from technology companies aimed at utilizing AI to monitor real-time video feeds from over 15,000 cameras across approximately 472 subway stations. The MTA's request for information (RFI), published on December 5, 2025, seeks solutions to identify weapons, recognize unattended items, and anticipate unsafe behaviors, such as crowd surges or stampedes.

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The MTA aims to transition from manual and reactive monitoring practices to a more proactive, intelligence-driven safety ecosystem. The agency's Chief Security Officer, Michael Kemper, has previously indicated interest in using AI for detecting problematic behaviors on subway platforms. The responses to the RFI could lead to a formal request for proposals, potentially shaping future procurement strategies for AI technologies.

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The initiative has drawn significant criticism from civil rights organizations, particularly the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP). The group argues that the MTA's exploration of AI video analytics will expand invasive surveillance technologies in the city. STOP has highlighted past failures of AI implementations, such as the high false positive rates associated with AI-powered gun detection scanners tested by the New York City Police Department under former Mayor Eric Adams. Critics assert that AI tools often misidentify individuals, disproportionately affecting people of color and marginalized communities.

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The MTA has stated that the RFI is intended for informational purposes and does not commit to any formal agreements. The agency emphasizes the need for solutions that are technologically robust and developed in collaboration with behavioral experts to ensure an ethical approach to safety. However, STOP's communications director, Will Owens, condemned the MTA's actions, stating, “The MTA has no right to treat New Yorkers like guinea pigs for their endless AI experiments.”

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While the MTA maintains that the RFI is exploratory, critics fear it may lead to increased surveillance capabilities without adequate oversight. The debate continues over the balance between enhancing public safety and protecting civil liberties, with no consensus on the effectiveness or ethical implications of such AI technologies.

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• “The MTA has no right to treat New Yorkers like guinea pigs for their endless AI experiments,” — Will Owens, Communications Director, Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

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• “Any AI software that claims to flag so-called unusual behavior is pure pseudoscience, disproportionately targeting [Black, indigenous and people of color] and disabled transit riders.” — Will Owens, Communications Director, Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

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As the MTA moves forward with its AI initiative, the implications for public safety and privacy will remain a contentious issue, reflecting broader societal concerns about surveillance and technology in urban environments.

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