Automobile manufacturers… Negligence in managing customer personal information?

[Daily Car Reporter Minji Pyo] Today, cars are equipped with smart technology, allowing them to collect information about what people do and where they go in the car. Meanwhile, a survey by the Mozilla Foundation, a web development company, found that car manufacturers do little to protect personal information.

Mozilla recently published a study on personal data and privacy in cars. The group surveyed 25 brands, all of which received a ‘no privacy’ warning label. This means that car manufacturers did not properly manage and secure data. In fact, when Mozilla reviewed the level of personal information security, it found that cars were in the worst category.

Mozilla’s research found that all car brands surveyed were collecting too much personal information. In addition to the information needed to operate the vehicle, it was found that a variety of details are collected, such as how people use the vehicle, how fast they drive, and where they go. Automakers also collect information through the connected services used in their vehicles, including third-party features from companies such as Google, Meta, and Sirius XM.

Mozilla said 84% of auto companies share or sell customers’ personal information to third parties, including service providers, data brokers and other businesses. Additionally, 56% of auto manufacturers said they share information with government or law enforcement in response to court orders, warrants and informal requests.

Based on the study, Mozilla concluded that most auto companies provide consumers with little or no control over their personal information. 92% of companies surveyed said they do not allow or make it very difficult for users to delete their personal information. Meanwhile, Renault and Dacia were classified as exceptions as they were subject to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy law.

Mozilla spent more than 600 hours researching the automaker’s privacy regulations, but was unable to get a full picture of how personal information was being used or shared. We also contacted all of the car companies that participated in the survey, but only received responses from Ford, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz.

According to a statement requested from Stellantis by the foreign news agency Motor 1, Stellantis responded to the aforementioned issues related to personal information protection by saying, “Allegations such as the automobile manufacturer’s negligence in managing personal information and excessive collection of information are not related to the Stellantis brand.” Therefore, the information is incorrect. We consider our customers’ privacy carefully and conscientiously and act accordingly. “For additional inquiries, please contact our customer support center.”

pyomj@dailycar.co.kr