Monday, January 20, 2014

Tracking You Through Your Automobile

The Detroit News recently reported that a Ford Motor Company executive, Jim Farley, revealed that Ford tracks all of its customers while they are driving their vehicles.  Farley, who was the headliner at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, made this disturbing statement during his presentation:

“We know everyone who breaks the law, we know when you’re doing it,” Farley said, according to a report in Business Insider. “We have GPS in your car, so we know what you’re doing. By the way, we don’t supply that data to anyone.”

Not surprisingly, Ford denounced those comments and Mr. Farley apologized for saying it.  Senator Al Franken, MN (D) demanded answers from Ford about their tracking customers and said that Ford does in fact share this information with third parties.  Ford says that nobody is tracked without providing their express consent.  Express consent, however, is provided when customers use a navigation or voice-activated system, which the vast majority of people with newer model vehicles do.  So despite Ford denouncing those comments and Mr. Farley apologizing, his comments for all intents and purposes are true.

Perhaps all of this discussion about tracking is moot though, because congress passed a law several years ago requiring that by model year 2015, all manufacturers are to install event data recorders, commonly known as 'black boxes' inside their vehicles.  The black boxes record all sorts of information, purportedly to aid crash investigators at accident sites.  96% of new vehicles already have them.  Some of them are tied into GPS systems and it won't be long until all of them are.  Some believe these boxes are less about accidents and more of segway into usage based vehicle taxes.

Perhaps not surprisingly, some people are already voluntarily allowing insurance companies to track their vehicle usage in return for lower premiums.  This insurance, known as usage-based insurance or black box insurance has been around since 1998 and thankfully, hasn't taken off here in the US.

There aren't many laws about who owns black box data as only 13 states have passed any legislation regulating the control of this information.  Vehicles that currently have black boxes are reportedly accessed regularly at crash sites or tow yards without consumer authorization.  Even if you were able to protect your information in the black box, other people may be willing to give up your black box after an accident.  Normally, when your car is totaled, the insurance company 'buys' the car from you, so they can provide the black box to whomever they choose.  There is a good article here with more details about how these black boxes work and what to expect when they are in your vehicle, if they aren't already there.

Privacy Action Plan - How to maintain the locational privacy of your vehicle.
PRS - Level 3

The simplest way to maintain your privacy is to not purchase a car with a navigation system installed.  Most smartphones have navigation apps which you can use and then turn them off when you are finished.  Do not use any voice activated systems installed in the vehicle either.  The added bonus is that by buying cars without these features, you will be able to save money on the car.

Don't buy usage-based/black box insurance.  These boxes are obviously a serious invasion of privacy.

Check your owner's manual to see if your car has a black box (manufacturers are required to include this information somewhere in the owner's manual).  If you do have a black box, take your car to a knowledgeable car technician and see if it can be removed or disabled, without affecting other features of the vehicle, such as airbags, which some black boxes are tied into.  Check the laws in your state.

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