Taxicams in Dubai spark privacy concern

CCTV in Dubai cabs is being trialled but not altogether welcomed by passengers.

DUBAI // A plan to put three CCTV cameras in Dubai taxis has had a mixed response from the public.

While some said they would welcome the move, in part to ensure taxi drivers are concentrating on the road, others had concerns that it would be an invasion of passengers’ privacy. The Roads and Transport Authority are piloting the scheme.

Jessica Cox, a 23-year-old Australian born in the UAE, was wary.

“How can I be guaranteed that this footage is not used anywhere else? Is there someone regulating [the process]?” she asked.

“It makes me a little uncomfortable.

“Other services, for example, they will monitor your trip but not necessarily record your whole time in the car.

“For me personally, I don’t have anything to hide, but I do think it’s a little bit of an invasion of privacy.”

Ms Cox said that the performance of taxi drivers could be monitored in other ways, such as through feedback from passengers.

However, Pakistani Caiyad Phahad, 30, an events manager and filmmaker, said that the proposal would be a step in the right direction.

“I think it’s important that taxi drivers are monitored, to make sure they are keeping with their rules and guidelines,” he said.

“There have been cases in which I’ve seen drivers watching movies on their phones, have their shoes off, or are talking on the phone.”

He also said that monitoring taxi rides could help protect people against an assault.

“We sometimes hear stories from woman getting unwanted attention from taxi drivers but with cameras installed, the drivers will be very aware of their behaviour,” said Mr Phahad, who was born and raised in the UAE.

“I don’t think there is a privacy issue, and it gives people a sense of security.”

Legally there is no problem with the RTA installing cameras in cabs, said Yousef Al Bahar, an advocate at Al Bahar and Associates Advocates and Legal Consultants.

“There are conditions though,” he said. “If this footage is then published on social media, then the person behind it may be held legally accountable, especially in cases of slander.

“I think it’s a good move but there should be conditions and a certain work process.

“This move is to protect people and to stop bad or immoral behaviour. It’s for the people’s safety.”

For Ameer Hamza, 30, the idea also seems like a good one.

“I do like the initiative, and I think it should ultimately be implemented as long as it’s for the sake of security,” he said.

“I once saw a drunken passenger punch a taxi driver for not having change for Dh1,000.

“This system will protect both parties.”

Abdulla Yousef Al Ali, chief executive of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said the trial had been going for six months.

“Until now, a few taxis have been installed and we are testing the system with different types of cameras to get the best results,” he said.

“Each taxi includes three CCTVs: one on the driver only [not covering passengers] and the other two for rear and front [on the outside of the vehicle].”

Mr Al Ali, who did not give a date for the roll-out of the scheme, said cameras would help the RTA “monitor the performance of drivers and for general security”.

Other taxi services, such as Careem, said they had no plans to install cameras in vehicles.

“We respect people’s privacy, and we have training for drivers not to disclose anything about where they’ve been, where they’re coming from or about any passenger,” said a Careem representative.

“In the end, we would follow the guidelines of the RTA if that ever were the case, but because of how the apps work, we can do the monitoring through them.”