What does this have to do with jihad? Here’s what, from “Taxi ‘Fear’ Hike,” by Jeremy Olshan for in the New York Post, September 4:
September 4, 2007 — Fear and paranoia are driving the taxi strike planned for tomorrow and Thursday, industry sources said yesterday.
The global-positioning systems being installed in all 13,000 cabs will be used to target and spy on Muslims, according to pro-strike literature being distributed by members of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, the group behind the two-day walkout.
“This is where deep racial, ethnic and religious prejudices and biases come into play,” one flier reads. “DNA samples are obtained, scrutinized and archived. Personal and family histories are scoured for evidence of ethnic and religious fervor. Clearly, surveillance technology can be a death sentence once you are in its crosshairs.”
But they didn’t win this one: “NYC cabbies lose court battle over GPS,” by Larry Neumeister for Associated Press:
NEW YORK – A federal judge refused Friday to block a new city rule that requires taxi drivers to install global positioning systems and credit card machines in their cabs by Monday.
The drivers argue that the city overstepped its authority and acted unconstitutionally when it mandated the units. Their lawsuit also claims GPS will give away trade secrets by disclosing the cabbies’ driving patterns, which they say give them a competitive edge.
U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman refused to block the rule from taking effect, saying the use of the technology to improve taxi service appeared to outweigh drivers’ privacy rights. He urged the two sides to negotiate and set the next hearing for Oct. 10.