It should come as no surprise that automakers collect vehicle location data to supply drivers with service like turn-by-turn directions and traffic information, but some might be shocked to learn that there is no set policy outlining how much of that data can be collected and for how long it may be kept. Moreover, the GAO’s report found, “If companies retained data, they did not allow consumers to request that their data be deleted, which is a recommended practice.”
The GAO reviewed data collection by the Detroit Three, Toyota, Honda and Nissan and found that there was no evidence of security breaches or information sales to third parties, but the government group expressed concerns that location data could be used to “track where consumers are, which can in turn be used to steal their identity, stalk them or monitor them without their knowledge. In addition, location data can be used to infer other sensitive information about individuals such as their religious affiliation or political activities.”
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., chairman of the judiciary committee on privacy that requested the report, said that more needs to be done in order to safeguard consumers.
“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, according to The Detroit News. “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.”
No companies disclosed to the GAO how long location information is kept, but a contractor that works with some of the companies involved said that information is retained for up to seven years. Some companies reportedly keep that information indefinitely, although the data is de-identified before it is stored.
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