Australian Car Brands Under Fire for Collecting and Sharing Driver Data
A recent investigation by consumer advocacy group Choice has found that most popular car brands in Australia are collecting and sharing ‘driver data’, ranging from braking patterns to video footage, with third parties. The investigation analyzed the privacy policies of the 10 most popular car brands in the country and discovered that seven of them have concerning privacy policies that allow them to track driver data, driving habits, and sell that data to third parties.
Data Collection Practices of Major Car Brands
Kia and Hyundai, which share the same parent company, were found to be collecting voice recognition data from inside their cars and selling it to an artificial intelligence software training company called Credence. According to Jarni Blakkarly, Choice investigative reporter, the average driver is unaware that their voice data is being used to train AI models. Tesla was also found to be collecting short images and videos from cameras inside and outside their cars, which may be shared with third parties. The company’s privacy policy was described as ‘incredibly vague’, leaving room for potential data sharing.
Concerns Over Data Privacy and Security
Privacy law expert Katharine Kemp from the University of New South Wales noted that even car makers that don’t sell connected cars in Australia may still be collecting and sharing customer data gathered in other ways. The investigation’s findings are consistent with those of the US-based Mozilla Foundation, which found that 25 car brands collected customer data ranging from facial expressions to sexual activity and driving habits. The Mozilla Foundation described cars as a ‘privacy nightmare on wheels’ and ‘the official worst category of products for privacy’.
Calls for Law Reform and Greater Transparency
Privacy and consumer rights advocates are pushing for law reform to limit data collection to what is ‘fair and reasonable’. The current Australian privacy law, based on the ‘notice and consent’ model, allows car makers to use customer data as long as they provide notice in their privacy policies. However, Dr. Kemp argues that this approach has significant deficiencies, particularly when it comes to connected vehicles. A review of Australian privacy law released last year recommended introducing an objective test to determine whether data collection and sharing is ‘reasonable in the circumstances’.
Protecting Your Data
To disable your car’s data collection, consumers can take several steps. Check your car’s app settings for data sharing options and opt out of sharing data with third parties where possible. Be cautious when connecting your phone to your car’s infotainment system and limit the permissions you grant. The free online resource Privacy4Cars provides step-by-step instructions for deleting collected data for various car models.
The issue of connected car data privacy is gaining attention globally. In the US, there are concerns that Chinese-made cars could be used for government surveillance. Domestic violence support services in Australia have also raised concerns about perpetrators using connected cars to track those trying to escape them. California has introduced legislation requiring car makers to do more to protect domestic abuse survivors, including enabling drivers to easily turn off location access.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, representing most car brands named in the Choice report, stated that its members collect and share data legally and are committed to maintaining high standards regarding consumer data protection and privacy.
