The automotive industry is constantly evolving, and currently, with electronics playing a key role, it faces a great challenge: cybersecurity. With the increasing interconnection of automobiles, there is a risk that they will be vulnerable to hacker attacks, just as happens with conventional electronic devices, but with the particularity, in addition, that the data collected will be sold to insurance companies.
To address this concern, the European Union (EU) has established new cybersecurity regulations that will come into force on July 1, forcing all vehicles on sale on the continent to comply with strict protection standards against cyber attacks.
Although the Internet connection allows obtaining real-time information on traffic status and other relevant aspects, the question arises about what happens with the driver’s data and what is the level of security in its handling by automotive brands.
The American media New York Post wrote about this topic after receiving complaints from drivers of cars manufactured by General Motors, Ford, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Kia and Hyundai who expressed that their car insurance had increased its cost.
The reason for this increase in price was due to the fact that the vehicles were sharing data, such as whether they ran too much, how they drove, or the kilometers they traveled daily, among other information.
Kenn Dahl, a 65-year-old driver living in Seattle, was one of those affected by this practice, as reported by The New York Times. After his Chevrolet Bolt car, made by General Motors, collected detailed data on his driving history, Dahl saw the cost of his insurance increase by 21% in 2022.
This data, provided to intermediaries such as LexisNexis, reveals sensitive information about driving behavior, raising concerns about privacy and transparency in data collection and use by automotive and insurance companies.
