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Privacy: Featured Story
Coverage from Gizmodo, Aol, and others
Ford Pledges Not to Sell Driving Data
Ford announced a U.S. privacy initiative promising not to sell customers’ driving information to data brokers or insurers, while adding clearer explanations of data collection and privacy settings. The announcement followed General Motors’ $220 million settlement with 36 attorneys general over allegations involving drivers’ data. Ford says customers can opt out of connected-vehicle data sharing, but some features may then be unavailable.
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A concise overview of Ford’s pledge, its privacy controls, and the GM settlement that frames the announcement.
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Examines the limits of Ford’s public promise, the terms that govern data sharing, and the tradeoffs of opting out.
Ford says customers can opt out of connected-vehicle data sharing, but doing so can disable some services. The pledge is public; the articles note that Ford’s privacy policy and connected-vehicle terms govern data handling and allow certain disclosures.
Ford says it will not sell customers’ driving information to data brokers or insurers and has launched a website explaining data collection and privacy settings.
Customers can choose not to share connected-vehicle data, but that may make features such as internet connectivity, BlueCruise, vehicle location tools, navigation, remote start, or wireless software updates unavailable.
The pledge is not itself a legal contract. The Verge reports that Ford’s privacy policy and connected-vehicle terms permit some data sharing with service providers or in response to police requests; the articles do not establish how the pledge will be applied in particular cases.
GM agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims brought by 36 attorneys general concerning driver and location data. That settlement provides context for Ford’s announcement, but Ford did not directly link its pledge to GM’s case.