It’s called Mobility Data Specification (MDS), and it’s a new program developed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT).
Using MDS, mobility companies are required to provide LADOT with access to real-time rider location data in order to receive operating permits.
To my brothers and sisters marching for equal justice, does MDS sound like something you want to see added to a system that already heavily surveils you?
This week, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles to halt the implementation of MDS, arguing that it plainly violates the Fourth Amendment and California privacy law.
With thousands of people in our city crying out for the foundational right to equal justice under law, city officials should commit to protecting us, like shepherds keeping the wolves at bay, and recognize that moving forward with MDS will place a stain on that commitment.
