Read more: www.workerinfoexchange.org/post/surveil...

What we’re demanding:
Ban biometric & bulk surveillance
Publish anonymised journey data for public oversight
Make algorithms accountable & bias-tested
Cap ghost-cruising fleets
Levy operator fees for worker/community funds
Protect workers with fair standards & a just transition

And it’s not just privacy. England has 381,000 taxi & PHV drivers whose livelihoods are at risk from robo-taxis. The govt promises 38,000 new AV jobs but most will be outsourced, low-paid, precarious, and under algorithmic control.

We’ve seen this before. Our Managed by Bots report showed how Uber became an intelligence source for police, receiving thousands of data requests from Met police, not to mention the sharing of "soft intelligence"
AVs will multiply this across entire cities.

The govt’s consultation gives broad powers for police to access this data — no warrants, no strict limits, no deletion rules.

In the US, police already tap robo-taxi footage to monitor protests & investigate crimes.

AVs are mobile surveillance platforms: 360° cameras, LiDAR mapping buildings & pedestrian movement, continuous audio capture & wireless tracking

The UK govt is fast-tracking autonomous vehicles (AVs) onto our streets by 2026.

But this isn’t just about transport. It’s about handing vast surveillance powers + precarious jobs to private tech giants.