Privacy advocates are warning that cars are becoming more connected wirelessly and that information is being collected, kept and transmitted, sometimes in violation of Canadian privacy laws.
Connected cars will dominate
Most, if not all new cars sold in North America now have at least some wireless connectivity, and fully connected cars are expected to dominate the market in the next few years, says a report for the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association.
Information is collected and transmitted over the air to external computers where it monitors vehicle health and driver behaviour, says the association’s report. Sometimes this information can be used by insurance companies to assess risk.
Navigation systems can monitor the vehicle’s location and route history. On-board infotainment can collect a wealth of information about the driver’s tastes and habits.
Information is being passed on
“The concern that’s been flagged in this report is that the information is also being passed on to potential third parties, that it is being used for marketing purposes,” says Ramona Pringle, assistant professor at Ryerson University’s School of Media.
“And…according to Canadian law they (vehicle makers) need to alert people in a very transparent, open way to the fact that they’re passing on that kind of personal information…The concern is that’s not the case right now,” says Pringle.
ListenData can reveal ‘intensely private details’
The data generated by vehicle telematics and infotainment systems is highly revealing of personal lifestyles, habits and preferences, says the report, adding that “Customer data generated by the Connected Car is now seen as a major new source of revenue for automakers and their many partners.”
The report warns that the data can reveal “intensely private details of a person’s life and is therefore highly sensitive and vulnerable to abuse.” It says this information is not just use for for marketers and insurance companies but also to thieves, stalkers and others with malicious intent.
Industry is ‘violating’ laws, says report
The government minister responsible has said there is already a law that protects people, but the report says consumers have limited choice when it comes to the use and disclosure of their personal data. Having reviewed several connected car privacy policies and service agreements, the authors concluded the industry is violating Canadian data protection laws.
B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association says the government must bring in data regulations that are specific to the connected car industry. Otherwise, Pringle says, consumers who do not want their information shared will have no choice but to ride bikes instead of cars.
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