EPIC: driver data shared via V2V technology needs protection

As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers mandating vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications in automobiles, it should also make sure it assesses the privacy implications of using the technology, a privacy group says.

This week, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) submitted comments (PDF) to NHTSA on V2V – technology that transmits data between vehicles to help warn drivers of potential crashes, EPIC explained.

Before requiring V2V capability in “light vehicles,” (i.e., passenger cars and light truck vehicles) the agency should agree not to collect PII without the consent of vehicle owners, require end-to-end encryption of V2V communications, and make certain no data is stored locally or remotely as a result of the technology, the comments said.

NHTSA should also require automakers to follow the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, and require “end-to-end anonymity” of shared driver data, EPIC said.