Ford Unveils Driver Data Pledge After GM's $220 Million Privacy Settlement

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 14

Ford said its Nov. 2 privacy promise will give drivers clearer controls over what connected vehicles collect and share, while pledging not to sell driving-behavior data to insurers or data brokers.
The move comes as automakers face sharper scrutiny over vehicle data practices after 36 attorneys general announced a $220 million settlement with General Motors on Oct. 29 over alleged collection and sale of driving and location data.
Ford still collects connected-vehicle information to run services and improve technology, and many of the underlying controls already existed; the new initiative mainly makes them easier to find through vehicle menus, the Ford app and a dedicated privacy site.
Turning off connectivity can curb sharing of location, driving and diagnostic data, but it may also disable features such as remote start, connected navigation, BlueCruise, over-the-air updates and roadside assistance.
The pledge stops short of full privacy: Ford says some data may still be shared with service providers or disclosed for legal, emergency or theft-alert reasons as it expands its connected-vehicle lineup.