By MassPrivateI
As more and more cities and towns privatize everything, the use of smart meter parking apps (SMPA) continues to grow.
Which is a good thing right?
Wrong, cities and towns are using SMPAs like Parkmobile, Streetline, ParkMe, Park Smarter and Smart Parking to collect all kinds of personal information.
According to numerous privacy policies, SMPAs collect much more information than most people realize.
A look at Parkmobile’s privacy policy reveals the types of personal information SMPAs collect.
Personal Information consisting of, at a minimum, your name, email address, mobile phone number, vehicle license tag number and issuing jurisdiction, Payment Method, Payment Information, Username and password. Over the course of your Use of the Platform, we may collect additional Personal Information such as: your mailing address, billing address, Transaction data; GPS data; information that you voluntarily provide like User Content; information received from your credit card provider, digital wallet, or financial institution.
Did you catch that?
SMPAs, at a minimum, are collecting tons of personal information and creasing a huge database of where and when you park.
Do SMPAs share your data with law enforcement?
Police can use smart meter parking apps to spy on motorists
SMPAs will share your personal data with law enforcement based on their good faith judgement. Again, from Parkmobile:
We will share your personal information if we, in our good faith judgment, believe it is necessary to…
SMPAs like Streetline warn that they “reserve the right to disclose your personally identifiable information to others as we believe appropriate.”
Parkmobile’s privacy policy also reveals how SMPAs are all too willing to, “provide requested information to relevant authorities upon the request of such authorities.”
A 2013 article in USA Today warned that major cities across the country are creating their own spying SMPAs.
From Pittsburgh to Los Angeles — and dozens of cities in between — mobile applications are becoming available to ease drivers’ search for a place to park.
Below is a list of some cities that have created their own SMPAs.
ParkBoston
PARK Smart NYC
ParkPGH (Pittsburgh)
meterUP (Philadephia)
ParkIndy
ParkChicago,
LA Express Park
FYI, LA Express Park is a federally funded SMPA developed by Xerox. Don’t forget Xerox also makes “Vehicle Passenger Detection System” cameras that police use to identify everyone with 95% accuracy.
SMPAs shouldn’t be used to spy on everyone; and they reveal much more than when a parking spot is vacant or when the meter is about to expire.
You can read more at MassPrivateI, where this article first appeared.
Top image credit: Mobiloitte
Source Article from http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ActivistPost/~3/FB2WdsEyoMo/law-enforcement-can-use-smart-meter-parking-apps-spy-everyone.html
Yes, smart parking meter is useful for every big parking area. Like a mall, business place and etc.