It’s common knowledge that modern cars gather a lot of information about their drivers, but what happens with that data might be surprising. Recently, the media has revealed that eight car companies gave location data to the police without needing a court order.
These companies, including BMW, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen, admitted to sharing data when the police asked for it. This raised concerns among some officials. Senators Ron Wyden and Ed Markey wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, asking them to investigate. They were worried that automakers hadn’t been transparent with consumers about their practices.
Ten years ago, all these companies agreed to follow the Consumer Privacy Protection Principles. This meant they would only share data if there was a court order. But now it seems they’ve been sharing data without these orders. General Motors is facing a lawsuit because it shared data with LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a company that helps insurers set rates.
Lawmakers are concerned that this data could be used to track people’s movements, like if someone went to another state for medical treatment. Automakers say they only share data in specific situations, like when there’s a warrant or when someone’s life is in danger.
Some automakers, like Honda, Ford, GM, Tesla, and Stellantis, only share data with a warrant or in emergencies. These companies have received praise from the senators for their practices.
