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General Motors Ceases Sharing Driver Behavior Data with Data Brokers

 


General Motors announced on Friday that it ceased sharing information on driving habits of its customers with two data brokers involved in creating risk assessments for insurance companies.

This decision came in response to a recent report by The New York Times revealing that General Motors had been sharing data on mileage, braking, acceleration, and speed of drivers with the insurance industry for several years. These data were collected through the OnStar Smart Driver feature in General Motors' internet-connected cars, often without the drivers' knowledge. This feature gathered driving data and offered feedback and digital rewards for safe driving.

Some drivers reported that their insurance premiums increased due to the shared data, which General Motors provided to two brokers, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk, who then sold it to insurance firms.

A spokesperson for General Motors, Malorie Lucich, stated via email that since Wednesday, they have halted the sharing of OnStar Smart Driver customer data with LexisNexis or Verisk. Lucich emphasized the company's commitment to customer trust and stated that they are actively reviewing their privacy procedures and policies.

In response to the situation, Romeo Chicco from Florida, whose insurance rates nearly doubled after his Cadillac's driving data was collected, filed a complaint seeking class-action status against General Motors, OnStar, and LexisNexis.

An internal document, examined by The New York Times, indicated that as of 2022, over eight million vehicles were enrolled in the Smart Driver program. A company insider revealed that the program's annual revenue was in the low millions of dollars.

Tesla's Breach of Trust: Employees Share Sensitive Images Recorded by Customer Cars

Tesla's Breach of Trust: Employees Share Sensitive Images Recorded by Customer Cars

  • Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars internally
  • Images included footage of drivers, passengers, and the car's surroundings
  • Concerns raised over the security and privacy of Tesla's customers
  • The incident has sparked outrage among Tesla customers and the public
  • Tesla has issued a statement acknowledging the incident and promising to take action
  • Importance of protecting personal data and data privacy highlighted by this incident
  • Vigilance and training for strong security measures are crucial for companies

The incident involving Tesla workers sharing sensitive images recorded by customer cars has raised serious concerns about the security and privacy of Tesla’s customers, as well as the conduct of its employees. In this blog post, we will examine this incident and its implications. 

The Incident: What Happened?

According to reports, some Tesla workers were sharing sensitive images recorded by customer cars internally. The images were taken from the car’s onboard cameras and included footage of the driver and passengers inside the vehicle, as well as the car’s surroundings. The images were reportedly exchanged in a group chat that was created for the purpose of sharing memes and other light-hearted content. 

In its Customer Privacy Notice, Tesla explains "Your vehicle may collect the data and make it available to Tesla for analysis. This analysis helps Tesla improve its products, and features, and diagnose problems more quickly. Camera recordings remain anonymous and are not linked to you or your vehicle."

The Concerns Raised: Security and Privacy

This incident raises serious concerns about the security and privacy of Tesla’s customers. The fact that employees were able to access and share this sensitive information without the knowledge or consent of the customers is alarming. Tesla’s cars are equipped with a range of cameras and sensors that are intended to enhance the safety and functionality of the vehicle, and customers expect their personal data to be handled with care and respect.

The incident has sparked outrage among Tesla customers and the public at large. It has also raised serious questions about the trustworthiness of Tesla’s employees and the security of its systems. Customers may be hesitant to trust Tesla with their personal information in the future, and the company may face reputational damage as a result of this incident.

Company Response: Acknowledging and Addressing the Issue

Tesla has issued a statement acknowledging the incident and promising to take action to address it. The company has stated that it takes the privacy of its customers seriously and that it is investigating the matter. It has also indicated that it will be implementing additional security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

This incident is a reminder of the importance of protecting personal data and the need for companies to take data privacy seriously. Customers trust companies to handle their personal information with care and to use it only for the purposes for which it was collected. When this trust is breached, it can have serious consequences for both the company and its customers.

Breach of Privacy and Importance of Data Protection

As more and more devices become connected and the amount of data collected increases, companies need to be vigilant about protecting customer data. This includes not only implementing strong security measures but also ensuring that employees are trained on how to handle sensitive information and understand the importance of data privacy.

The incident involving highlights the importance of protecting personal data. It is important for companies to take data privacy seriously and to implement strong security measures to prevent breaches from occurring. As consumers, we should also be mindful of the data we share and the companies we trust with our personal information.