Automakers work together to protect vehicle data privacy

Automakers work together to protect vehicle data privacy

The two most important associations of automakers are working on a cybersecurity initiative with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers, which between them represent all the major automakers, have been working on the initiative since July.

The security principles that the automaker groups have written –reflect the reality that automobiles increasingly make use of innovative technologies and services that are designed to enhance vehicle safety, improve vehicle performance and enable a better overall driving experience,” Global Automakers told NHTSA, according to the Detroit News. The data captured by the in-vehicle systems could include exact location and biometric information about the driver.

There have been no problems yet because thereês no money to be made from hacking in-vehicle systems. But terrorism is a potential concern, former NHTSA administrator David Strickland, now a partner with Venable LLP, said at the SAE Convergence Conference in Detroit, reports the Detroit Free Press.

To combat threats to privacy, the automaker groups are creating a virtual Information Sharing Advisory Center that will collect and share cyber threats. Although there have been no threats so far to the security of customer information, the groups said they are working to prevent information leaks before they occur.