Cars are becoming smarter than ever, with global positioning systems, Internet connections, data recorders and high-definition cameras.
Drivers can barely make a left turn, put on their seatbelts or push 80 miles an hour without their actions somehow, somewhere being tracked or recorded.
Automakers say they are only responding to consumer demand, and besides, they and regulators say, the new technologies help them better understand consumers and make the cars safer. But privacy advocates increasingly see something more unsettling for drivers: that someone is always watching.
Now two senators are trying to give car owners more say over some of that data. Early next week, Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, and Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, will introduce a bill stipulating that car owners control the data collected on the device called the event data recorder. The recorder, commonly known as a black box, collects information like direction, speed and seatbelt use in a continuous loop. It is in nearly every car today, and in September, it is set to become mandatory.
“We’ve got real privacy concerns on the part of the public,” Senator Hoeven said in a telephone interview. “People are very concerned about their personal privacy, especially as technology continues to advance,” he said, referring to revelations of spying by the National Security Agency. Fourteen states have already passed similar laws.
The data collected by the black box has already been the center of litigation by law enforcement agencies and insurance companies seeking to use the information against car owners. The bill would limit what the data could be used for and would require a warrant to release the data without the owner’s consent.
But even this legislation covers only part of what is a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
At the International CES in Las Vegas this week, automakers and technology companies announced a stream of new products and services aimed at making cars more connected.
Google announced it had a partnership with G.M., Audi, Honda and Hyundai to bring its Android platform to vehicle infotainment systems by the end of this year. At the same time, G.M. said it would start an app shop, where drivers can use apps like Priceline.com to book a hotel room and CitySeeker, which provides information about attractions and restaurants near the vehicle.
The days of a driver being alerted to a deal at a retailer as he drives nearby are rapidly approaching.
Many consumers, though, are unaware of just how much personal information is collected and used, privacy advocates say.
The Latest on: Privacy
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Privacy” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Privacy
- Biden keeps quiet as Gaza protesters and police clash on college campuseson May 1, 2024 at 9:19 pm
President Joe Biden is staying mum about student protests and police crackdowns as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats. Tension at ...
- Tension grows on UCLA campus as police order dispersal of large pro-Palestinian gatheringon May 1, 2024 at 9:03 pm
Law enforcement on the UCLA campus donned riot gear Wednesday evening as they ordered the dispersal of over a thousand people who had gathered in support of a pro-Palestinian student encampment, ...
- PSP investigates dirt bike theft in Northumberland Countyon May 1, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced Wednesday that state police are investigating a reported dirt bike theft. According to PSP, sometime between October 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. and April 23, 2024, ...
- How to Watch Clippers vs. Mavericks: TV Channel and Live Stream Info for NBA Playoffs | Game 5on May 1, 2024 at 5:13 pm
How to watch the Clippers vs. Mavericks NBA Playoffs Game 5 today, with TV channel and live streaming information.
- 8 Telegram Privacy Settings You Should Enable Immediatelyon May 1, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Telegram has many privacy related features. However, many of them, like end-to-end encryption, aren't actually enabled by default.
- T-Mobile Closes Mint Mobile Deal, Promises to Keep $15 Monthly Plan Optionon May 1, 2024 at 12:24 pm
It took longer than expected, but T-Mobile has finally completed its purchase of prepaid provider Mint Mobile. After gaining FCC approval last week, T-Mobile announced on Wednesday that it has closed ...
- Blur Your Home in Google Maps Street View to Take Back Your Privacyon May 1, 2024 at 10:55 am
At maps.google.com, enter your home address in the search bar at the top-right, hit return, then click the photo of your home that appears. Next, you'll see the Street View of your location. Click ...
- The Role Of Google's Privacy Sandbox In The Future Of Targeted Adson May 1, 2024 at 3:14 am
If we all want to see the ad tech scene as an open and competitive space, businesses and ad tech authorities need to collaborate in order to alleviate existing problems.
- iOS 18—New Apple Overhaul Reveals Exciting iPhone AI Privacy Featureon May 1, 2024 at 12:31 am
Apple’s iOS 18 software includes a cool new AI-based privacy feature as part of an overhaul of the iPhone maker's Safari browser.
- SF police to crack down on speeding, ramp up traffic enforcement after historic lowson April 30, 2024 at 4:10 pm
After a massive decline in citations in the past decade, SFPD plans to crack down on speeding and other traffic violations.
via Bing News