By Marc Lamber | Point of View
Cars today are full of convenience and new technology, capturing large amounts of your personal information in the process. General Motors Insurance, which first launched in Arizona, uses data collected from the vehicle to customize insurance rates.
Now, Texas is suing General Motors for allegedly collecting and selling over 1.5 million Texans’ private driving data to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent.
Collecting drivers’ information from their cars isn’t limited to General Motors. A recent report by the Mozilla Foundation shines the light on privacy compromises individuals give up just by getting behind the wheel. It asserts that car brands have “quietly entered the data business by turning their vehicles into powerful data-gobbling machines.”
The report goes on stating that the car brands they researched use their built-in apps to collect personal information about the connected services one uses in their car including medical information, how fast one drives, where they drive, what songs they play and genetic information.
Here’s the kicker, according to Mozilla 84% of the 25 brands they researched say they can share a driver’s personal data with service providers like data brokers and 76% say they can sell that data. Moreover, 56% of these brands say they can share information collected by the car with government agencies in response to an informal request. Mozilla says that only two of the brands it researched say that drivers have the right to have their personal data deleted.
In Arizona, over 98% of those who are 16 or older have their driver’s license. With so many drivers, it’s crucial to be responsible and aware of what we can do to manage our data in the cars we drive.
- For those renting or borrowing another car where they have connected their phone, the FTC suggests deleting the device from the vehicle’s system settings.
- For those who own a car and decide to sell it privately or trade it in, reset the system to factory settings, remove bluetooth pairings, delete contacts, and clear GPS data and login information.
- Check the privacy options in your car’s apps and infotainment system. Under settings labeled “Data Privacy” or “Data Usage,” opt out of sharing data with third parties.
- Driver rating systems on your car’s app may be sharing your information with data brokers, such as Honda’s “Driver Feedback” or Kia’s “Driving Score.” Make sure to call your insurance company to see how these apps may be impacting your premium.
The FTC Safeguards Rule requires automobile dealers to undertake a series of procedural, technical, and contractual steps to protect consumer and other personal data. Be mindful of how much your car might already know about you and do thorough research before selling or renting a car. As we embrace the convenience of connected cars, it is essential to implement safeguards that prioritize privacy.
Editor’s Note: Marc Lamber is a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent-rated trial attorney and consumer advocate.
