Monitoring in public transport: this real satire is the first time that Bremen has introduced a behavioural scanner

In Bremen have been installed cameras in trams equipped with software designed to monitor passenger behavior, according to internal documents obtained by the Chaos Computer Club. The system, developed by the company Just Add AI (JAAI), was initially intended to document damage to vehicles but instead led to the implementation of behavioral monitoring technology. This development marks a growing trend in Germany, where several states are exploring the use of artificial intelligence to analyze public behavior. The process began when the Bremer Straßenbahn AG (BSAG) sought a system to automatically record vehicle damage. They approached JAAI, which declined the request, stating that documenting damages would “not be so simple.” Instead, JAAI proposed an alternative solution, an aggression detection system. The BSAG reportedly tested this system in one tram during a staged demonstration in September 2024, simulating scenarios such as assaults, theft, and weapon use. On March 24, 2025, the pilot project officially launched, despite its questionable results. As of now, 43 trams, roughly a third of the fleet, are equipped with the high-tech surveillance system. This situation in Bremen reflects a broader national trend. Across Germany, multiple federal states are considering the deployment of AI-based systems to monitor public behavior. Cities like Mannheim and Hamburg already have such systems in place, while others including Berlin, parts of Baden-Württemberg, and cities in Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia are either planning or working toward similar initiatives. These efforts focus primarily on police oversight in public spaces, but Bremen has taken a pioneering role in applying behavioral monitoring within public transportation. The city's approach has inspired other municipalities, with pilot projects underway in Dortmund and Düsseldorf. In Düsseldorf, the system is operated using software from a subsidiary of JAAI, according to the company’s managing director, who spoke with netzpolitik.org. Furthermore, the German parliament plans to enable the use of behavioral scanners at all major train stations following the summer break, signaling a potential normalization of automated human behavior monitoring. The case of Bremen provides insight into how such systems come to be implemented. Internal documents, made public through the right to information, reveal that the BSAG largely overlooked personal rights when making its decision. Initially submitted privacy impact assessments were deemed insufficient, and the company showed little awareness of the implications of the project. The data collected by these systems could potentially infringe upon passengers' privacy, raising concerns over the ethical and legal boundaries of such surveillance. Despite the lack of direct responses from the BSAG and the responsible SPD senator, the available documentation allows for a detailed account of how Bremen arrived at this point. The company has yet to provide answers to questions posed by netzpolitik.org after three weeks of waiting, even though it is legally obligated to respond to journalists. Nevertheless, the existing records offer a comprehensive overview of the path leading to the installation of behavioral scanners in Bremen’s trams. The implementation of such systems raises critical questions about the balance between security and individual freedoms. While authorities argue that these tools can enhance safety, critics warn of the risks to privacy and the potential for misuse. As more cities consider adopting similar measures, the debate over the ethical implications of automated behavioral monitoring continues to gain momentum.