Automakers Collaborate on Data Collection Standards, Receive Criticism

In an era when in-car technology seems to only be scratching the surface, privacy concerns we’re an inevitable issue. When you have vehicles that and provide 4G Internet and partially drive themselves, consumers are going to come calling about privacy issues. A collaboration of automakers has agreed to provide a certain degree of privacy piece of mind to consumers. Critics, however, don’t think that it’s enough.

A coalition of global automakers has set out to adopt guidelines for automotive privacy they hope will become the status quo. Among those companies who have signed off on this standardization of in-car technology privacy are BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. Those automakers were attached to a document released on November 12, titled, “Consumer Privacy Protection Principles.” It was available under the auto privacy section on the auto alliance website. Mitch Bainwol, Chief Executive of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said, “Automakers pledge to provide protections for sensitive information that goes beyond similar principles in other industry sectors.” Bainwol is clearly hoping that the privacy protection for vehicles of the future will be more data secure for consumers than it has been in other industries, where surely similar guarantees have taken place.

The privacy protection principles are: Transparency, Choice, Respect for Context, Data Minimization, Data Security, Integrity & Access and Accountability.

As explained in the 13-page document released by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, these categories cascade out into an explanation of how these areas of concentration should be of benefit to consumers.

Transparency – The automaker is expected to present the consumer with information about data collection it terms of how it’s used and potentially shared.

Choice – Consumers are supposed to be presented with choice regarding the collection and usage of their data.

Respect For Context – Information collected will only be shared and used in the context in which it was collected.

Data Minimization – Data will only be collected for “legitimate business purposes” and won’t be kept or stored longer than is necessary for those “legitimate business purposes.”

Data Security – The manufacturers say that they will implement “reasonable measures” to protect consumer data against security breaches.

Integrity & Access – The Data stored will be available for consumers to review and correct.

Minimization – Those parities that receive the consumer’s data have to follow the data regulations.

The principles in place aren’t enough for AAA President and Chief Operating Officer Marshall Doney. In a statement, he explained, “AAA is encouraged that automakers are taking a first step to address consumer rights with connected car data, but this agreement falls short of providing consumers the right to control their own information.”

One of the most controversial points of the data debate is that of location services. After all, numerous social media sites use location services. They are very popular, however not everyone is thrilled at the thought that auto makers could know where their cars are at all times. Democratic Senator Edward Markey (MA) feels that when it comes to data collection from automakers, there should be an opt-out option. “The principles do not provide consumers with a choice whether sensitive information is collected in the first place,” Markey said.

This debate is not going away anytime soon. The debate-taking place is essential over the near future, when more and more vehicles will have in-car technology that will be able to collect data.