Modern cars are essentially drivable computers. They allow us to listen to music, browse the web, watch TV and even control the configuration of our chosen mode of transport without having to visit a mechanic, but how do we know that all of our data is not being saved and secretly sent to advertisers and insurers? Well, we don’t. However, it looks like we might not have to ponder over that particular question for too much longer.
The Auto Alliance, which incidentally includes most major American and German makes, has today published a set of privacy principles it hopes all car manufacturers around the world will enforce. These guidelines are geared at limiting the information that’s collected from your vehicle, such as location data, diagnostic reports, speed records and web history ,then determines how it’s used.
If an automobile manufacturer does want to collect biometrics, location or driving behavior records for marketing, they’ll have to request your permission via your vehicles built-in computer system first. If access is granted, they will only extract and store data relevant to their inquiry, and anonymise it when possible in an effort to ensure that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Its important to bear in mind, any content processed from an event data recorder belongs to you — so if your car records you speeding on a highway, the manufacturer has no right to, and won’t be able to, provide the information to authorities in order to prosecute you.
Unfortunately, there is one major loophole. Vendors will not require consent for some “minor” tasks that you may not feel comfortable with, like, for example, “internal research” and “facilitating corporate mergers.”
The scheme is already backed by many big-names in the automotive industry, including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Jaguar, Mazda, Mercedes_Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Hit the source link below to find out more over on Auto Alliance’s website.
Source: Auto Alliance
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