An new bill from Senator Bill Morning (D-Carmel) measure, SB 994 which defines who has car data access, gives control and choice to drivers. It will be considered by a Senate policy committee in the next few weeks. The bill is supported by the AAA and Your Car Your Data Coalition.SB 994 Requires:
- Disclosure: drivers must be informed and understand what information is being collected and what is transmitted to the automaker.
- Access: drives will have access to their car information and automakers are forbidden from creating exclusive systems.
- Choice: consumers have the right to control who can access their car information and designate other service providers to receive their information to provide needed and wanted services.
“On behalf of 10 million California consumers, the AAA clubs believe car owners should have basic rights in controlling their own data,” said Alice Bisno, Senior Vice President of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “Just like a smart phone or computer, consumers should be allowed to know what information is being collected and decide who has access to their information. As more cars become connected cars, and as more information gets transmitted to carmakers, this issue needs to be addressed now.”
The coalition notes examples of information controlled by automakers include:
- Car Location Information- precise car location, mileage tracking, and frequently visited locations.
- Auto Repairs & Maintenance: car makers use data from the car to determine when a repair may be needed before a problem occurs to send repair jobs to franchise dealers.
- Driving Habits: data about how cars are driven, acceleration, braking too fast, or the collision system activation. Drivers are not given the option to access this data for their own use.
- Electronic Data Recorder (EDR): called “black box,” it records data when cars air bags are deployed. It records a car’s speed, status of air bags, braking, and acceleration. It also detects the severity of an accident and whether passengers had their seat belts buckled. The EDR does not necessarily alert the car owner’s family or other emergency service providers they choose.
- Infotainment Systems and On-Board Computers: systems offer GPS navigation and two-way communication to motorists. Information collected and exclusively used by automakers. Connected to your smartphone, calls, voice texts, phone numbers, and other personal data can be accessed by automakers. Drivers can not shut off data going to car makers, if they want to use car infotainment systems.
Drivers can show their support online and also contact their legislative representatives.