Last week, the Washington Blade and Los Angeles Blade published an op-ed written by LGBT Tech's Executive Director Christopher Wood. The op-ed condemns the use of a data collection tool called Mobility Data Specification (MDS) to track individual vehicles like dockless bikes and scooters, and potentially ride shares like Uber and Lyft in the near future. Mr. Wood argues that MDS technology poses a major breach of privacy for members of the LGBTQ+ community who depend on data privacy for personal safety.
"If you’re part of the LGBTQ community, you know that a right to privacy – and with it your right to come out on your own terms – has been a key part of the fight for equality. For LGBTQ individuals, having a safe place to gather with other members of the community – whether it’s a friend’s home, bars, or activity groups – is a key part of becoming comfortable with their identity. If MDS could result in someone being outed by their location data, many LGBTQ people would be deterred from engaging in these important activities."
