Some bus riders newsnet5’s Paul Kiska talked with Monday knew there were cameras on Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority buses, but didn't realize audio was also being recorded.
RTA told Kiska they have 6,000 cameras on buses, trains and platforms, but said they do not live monitor audio.
RTA said the video and audio are only reviewed to investigate crimes and accidents.
We rode on one of RTA's buses on Monday. Signs on buses and trains let riders know their activity is being recorded, but nowhere does it say their audio is also being recorded.
Civil rights Attorney Avery Friedman said having your conversations recorded on a "public" bus or train is legal.
“The fact is, if you're going to be in a public place, there's no more likelihood of your expectation to privacy then the man on the moon," Friedman said.
Friedman said everything changed after 9/11.
But bus rider Ruby Davis disagreed, “People should have some privacy. It’s okay to watch because there is some fighting, but listening to private conversations isn’t good."
You can read RTA’s full statement below.
RTA Statement related to audio and video monitoring
April 18, 2016
“The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has more than 6,000 surveillance cameras throughout our system on buses, on the trains and at transit stations.
RTA does not live monitor our system. Our cameras are designed for post-incident investigation, and video and or audio is retrieved and reviewed only for the investigation of crimes, accidents, misconduct, incidents and claims.”
Gary Daniels, spokesperson for the Ohio ACLU said recording audio on buses and trains is a privacy issue and is concerned over how the audio would be used or perhaps misused.
"What if you're trying to have a private conversation or even whispering to the person next to you, will that also be recorded," Daniels said.
