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Passengers information in public transport and privacy: Can anonymous tickets prevent tracking?

Author

Listed:
  • Avoine, Gildas
  • Calderoni, Luca
  • Delvaux, Jonathan
  • Maio, Dario
  • Palmieri, Paolo

Abstract

Modern public transportation companies often record large amounts of information. Privacy can be safeguarded by discarding nominal tickets, or introducing anonymization techniques. But is anonymity at all possible when everything is recorded? In this paper we discuss travel information management in the public transport scenario and we present a revealing case study (relative to the city of Cesena, Italy), showing that even anonymous 10-ride bus tickets may betray a user's privacy expectations. We also propose a number of recommendations for the design and management of public transport information systems, aimed at preserving the users’ privacy, while retaining the useful analysis features enabled by the e-ticketing technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Avoine, Gildas & Calderoni, Luca & Delvaux, Jonathan & Maio, Dario & Palmieri, Paolo, 2014. "Passengers information in public transport and privacy: Can anonymous tickets prevent tracking?," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 682-688.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:34:y:2014:i:5:p:682-688
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2014.05.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sampaio, Breno Ramos & Neto, Oswaldo Lima & Sampaio, Yony, 2008. "Efficiency analysis of public transport systems: Lessons for institutional planning," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 445-454, March.
    2. de Grange, Louis & González, Felipe & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Troncoso, Rodrigo, 2013. "Aggregate estimation of the price elasticity of demand for public transport in integrated fare systems: The case of Transantiago," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 178-185.
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