A control that drags on, voices getting louder, a gesture that goes too far. In these moments, a simple button could now change everything. Tied to the inspectors' uniform, the "body camera" officially starts service in Paris public transport. Its role is clear: deter aggressive behavior and keep a record in case things go wrong.
The decree allowing their use was published on Thursday, December 18 in the Official Journal. Starting this Friday, inspectors can turn on these cameras during interventions considered sensitive, as long as they clearly inform passengers.
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A Much-Awaited Green Light
While this measure isn’t entirely new, its implementation has been anticipated. Equipping inspectors was part of the transport security enhancement law, adopted in April 2025 after lengthy discussions. We were just waiting for approval from the CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Liberties) to regulate the use and storage of images.
It's all set now! The result: over 11,000 control agents are involved nationwide, according to the Ministry of Transport. The system was officially launched in Paris, at Gare de Lyon, in the presence of Minister Philippe Tabarot and SNCF President Jean Castex.
Rapid Deployment at RATP, Gradual at SNCF
At RATP, there’s no time to waste. Video checks will start this Friday across the network. « We had anticipated everything, everything was ready », says the agency, reminding us that nearly 1,000 agents volunteered to be equipped.
On the SNCF side, the deployment will be gradual, prioritizing the most frequented lines, especially in Île-de-France, where the bulk of traffic concentrates. The cameras will only be activated in case of tension, aggression, or threat.
Les contrôleurs RATP en civil me fument, t’es dans le bus normal, d’un coup t’entends *SCRATCH* tu t’retourne y’a 3guignols en brassard qui crient «RATP sûreté! Sortez vos titres de transport!», des entrées dignes du FBI juste pr contrôler des mecs en survet Juventus sans ticket
— Ekips🐍 (@A2Skywalker) February 12, 2020
Body Cameras: Easing Rather than Punishing
On the ground, the initial feedback seems quite positive. Several inspectors from the RATP network, who took part in the tests conducted before and during the Olympic Games, observe that just announcing the activation of the camera often helps diffuse tension. According to them, the exchanges calm down almost immediately.
Moreover, the footage is kept for a maximum of 30 days before being destroyed, except in the case of legal proceedings. This measure is intended to reassure some users, even though questions remain. Some travelers believe that the system should also allow for documenting any potential abuses by inspectors, who are often heavily criticized on social media.
edil; rekindling an old debate: the one about the balance between security and surveillance.