Big car companies are compiling big data on you through your car's onboard navigation system

[Redfairen]

A government report finds that major automakers are keeping information about where drivers have been -- collected from onboard navigation systems -- for varying lengths of time. Owners of those cars can't demand that the information be destroyed. And, says the U.S. senator requesting the investigation, that raises questions about driver privacy. The Government Accountability Office in a report released Monday found major automakers have differing policies about how much data they collect and how long they keep it.

Automakers collect location data in order to provide drivers with real-time traffic information, to help find the nearest gas station or restaurant, and to provide emergency roadside assistance and stolen vehicle tracking. But, the report found, "If companies retained data, they did not allow consumers to request that their data be deleted, which is a recommended practice."

The report reviewed practices of Detroit's Big Three automakers, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. It also looked at navigation system makers Garmin and TomTom and app developers Google Maps and Telenav. The report, which didn't identify the specific policies of individual companies, found automakers had taken steps to protect privacy and were not selling personal data of owners, but said drivers are not aware of all risks.

.......

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who chairs a judiciary committee on privacy and requested the report, said Monday that more work needs to be done to ensure privacy protections for in-car navigation systems and mapping apps. He plans to reintroduce his location privacy legislation sometime this year.

"Modern technology now allows drivers to get turn-by-turn directions in a matter of seconds, but our privacy laws haven't kept pace with these enormous advances," Franken said in a statement. "Companies providing in-car location services are taking their customers' privacy seriously -- but this report shows that Minnesotans and people across the country need much more information about how the data are being collected, what they're being used for, and how they're being shared with third parties."


http://m.detnews.com/autos/article?a=2014301070017&f=1213

[Initech]

1. Is there anything they can't use to spy on us?

[intaglio]

3. So go back to horse and buggy

Do you want cars improved? Do you want companies to be responsive? Do you want to have the convenience and efficiency in your car?

If you want none of these - go back to horse and buggy.

[Fumesucker]

4. False dichotomy: Cars can be improved and companies can be resonsive without spying on you

[intaglio]

5. Not now

Motive power (internal combustion or electric), suspension, drive systems, ergonomics and aerodynamics are all pretty much well understood. It is only styling variations that change.

To make meaningful changes now motor companies have to know how the variables associated with a car works - and those variables are the driver, passengers, load and route chosen. They can test all they want with dummies or test drivers or use questionaires but this will only provide estimates of real world conditions.

Consider engine management systems and electronic gear changes. These were pretty awful at first but as registered repairers downloaded information from these units they had that information transmitted back to the makers and improvements could be made. IIRC EMSs in Europe are programmed differently from those in the states.

[Fumesucker]

6. Europeans don't drive the same as Americans so of course the EMS will be programmed differently

For instance diesels are very prevalent in Europe as are manual transmissions, both of those have all but disappeared in America.

[Initech]

7. And we might as well use a tin can and string and carrier pigeons to communicate at that,

[rickford66]

2. I would never have a onboard system

I'm sure there's lot's of technicians listening in to many private conversations. As an aside, I bought a coffee maker a couple weeks ago. Within an hour I received an email from the appliance manufacturer. They're buying lots of marketing information for almost nothing when we use our "shoppers" cards. I covered up the camera on my laptop a long time ago. Who needs the NSA when our appliances can spy on us. Everything will be connected to the internets soon. Baaaa. What's that door up ahead? Baaaa.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. How did your shopper's card have your email address on it?

My shopper's cards are in the name of our dog and cat and a false address.

But I did not put any phone or email addy on it.

[rickford66]

12. I guess I put my actual name on it many years ago

Once your name is on it and you pay with a credit card I'm sure they know everything. We didn't have internet back when I got the card so I know our email address isn't on it. Any way, VISA knew what I bought and they could have notified the manufacturer. It never happened before .... that I know of. If Chinese can gain access to the Pentagon, market research groups can figure out my email. I was impressed on how fast they did it. Back in the late 70's I was working at a large software facility. One person was on vacation and these other two older guys needed access to her files. It took them 5 minutes to guess her password. Granted she used all letters but it was impressive back then.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Any way to turn the GPS off?

Not that I am in any danger of buying a new or recently used car..........

[hunter]

10. What navigation system?

My car is old and dumb. It doesn't collect data on anything, it doesn't even have a "check engine" light. It's not transmitting anything to anyone except noise from the ignition system -- the old fashioned kind with an ignition coil and distributor cap.

[CFLDem]

11. Only problem with this

is if our govt gets its tentacles on this info.

[LeftyMom]

13. My car's what? My car's so damned old computers took punch cards back then.

[El_Johns]

14. You know, I've been wondering if that "Cash for Clunkers" program wasn't in aide of pulling

used cars without all the spy stuff in them off the market, so everyone would more quickly have to drive spy cars.

Cause they weren't giving money for real clunkers, just pre-spy driveable ones, so I heard.