Ford unveiled a "privacy promise" on Monday, describing it as an "explicit commitment" to keep customers' vehicle data safe and give them control over what they share. The automaker also launched a website that explains how, where, and why it uses customer data, and shows owners how to change their settings.
Ford's chief privacy officer, Kristin Jones, told TechCrunch that the company wants to be "making it very clear to our customers what our data practices are." She said the effort is meant to help customers understand how they share data, especially as Ford prepares to launch more connected vehicles on its upcoming "universal electric vehicle" platform.
According to the report, only 14% of U.S. customers say they fully understand what data their vehicle collects. Jones cited a Ford survey of 1,000 consumers in which 91% said data privacy was a key consideration for them.
Opting out of some data sharing will limit some features. Jones said turning off "connected services" disables real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance access.
Jones said Ford does not share information about how customers drive their vehicles with data brokers. She said the company is not trying to monetize data and that vehicle health data supports both owner maintenance alerts and research and development for future technologies. The report states that the website will explain what data is collected, how it is used, and how customers can opt in or out.