Is Your Car Spying On You?

A new Senate bill aims to give drivers more control over the growing trove of data being collected by sensors and computers embedded in our cars. Most drivers are unaware of how much personal information is being recorded.

1 minute read

January 14, 2014, 7:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

With soon-to-be mandatory "black boxes" collecting information on your car's direction, speed and seatbelt use at all times and new devices able to record the driver’s point of view and any noises made in a vehicle, legislators and advocates are raising concerns about the ways automobiles are impinging on privacy rights, reports Jaclyn Trop.

As a new bill being sponsored by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) that seeks to limit the use of "black box" data illustrates, it's unclear who owns the information your car collects.

“Consumers should decide what level of surveillance they want to be under,” said Khaliah Barnes of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. “None of that should be on default. You should have to opt in.”

FULL STORY: The Next Data Privacy Battle May Be Waged Inside Your Car

Friday, January 10, 2014 in The New York Times

Technology World Surveillance Automobiles Cars Spying View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.