Automaker Group Commits to Privacy for Vehicle Personal Data

November 17, 2014

Patrick Ponticel

The principles treat sensitive information—such as geolocation, driver behavior, and biometric information—with additional, heightened protections. (NXP Semiconductor)

The Association of Global Automakers and its 12 member companies have unveiled auto industry consumer privacy protection principles for vehicle technologies and services. These principles commit automakers to take certain preventive steps, including not disclosing customers' geolocation data to the government unless under warrant. “As modern cars not only share the road, but will in the not-too-distant future communicate with one another, vigilance over the privacy of our customers and the security of vehicle systems is an imperative,” said Global Automakers President and CEO John Bozzella. The fundamentals of the Global Automakers' principles are based on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs), which, in turn, rest on privacy practice frameworks used in the United States and around the world for over 40 years. Consistent with the FIPPs approach, the principles treat sensitive information—such as geolocation, driver behavior, and biometric information—with additional, heightened protections. Global Automakers met with the FTC during the development process of the principles, and the agency is supportive of the industry efforts.