Ford Pledges Not to Sell Driving Data to Brokers
Ford says it will not sell customers’ driving information to data brokers, as the automaker prepares for a new generation of connected vehicles. The pledge is part of a newly announced privacy promise, alongside a website explaining what information Ford collects, how it uses it and how customers can adjust sharing settings.
Ford’s chief privacy officer, Kristin Jones, said the company wants to explain its practices more clearly and build trust. Ford says it will use techniques such as aggregation and anonymization to protect information, and that data can help improve safety, provide vehicle-health updates and support research and development. Jones said Ford does not use driving data for targeted advertising.
The announcement follows General Motors’ agreement to pay $220 million to settle claims that it improperly sold driver and location data. The settlement requires GM to limit data collection and get drivers’ express consent. More broadly, research cited in the reports found extensive data transfers from vehicle brands to outside domains, while many consumers said they do not fully understand what their cars collect.
Ford’s website will explain how to opt in or out. But turning off some connected services can disable features such as real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance. Ford’s public promise is distinct from its formal privacy policy and vehicle terms, which permit some sharing, including with service providers or in response to police requests. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general can act if a company makes deceptive public claims.
Ford’s Data Pledge Highlights the Need for Real Privacy Protections
Ford’s pledge not to sell driving data to brokers is a welcome response to a connected-car industry where consumers have had little control over personal information. The automaker announced the promise on November 2, alongside a website explaining data collection and customer settings.
The timing matters: General Motors agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims it illegally sold driver and location information. Other research cited in the reports found that all 21 vehicle brands examined sent data to at least one outside domain, and that many contacted advertising, tracking or analytics firms. A separate review found that most automakers offered drivers little control over their data.
Ford says it will aggregate and anonymize information and use data for safety, vehicle-health services and research. It says it will not sell driving information to data brokers or use it for targeted advertising. But customers who disable connected services may lose features such as real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance, making meaningful control harder when useful services depend on sharing.
A public pledge is not the same as a legal contract. Ford’s formal privacy terms allow some sharing, including with service providers and in response to police requests. The FTC and state attorneys general can pursue deceptive claims, but consumers still need clear rules and real choices—not just corporate assurances—to protect sensitive data.
Ford’s Privacy Pledge Offers Drivers Choice Without Banning Useful Services
Ford is answering concerns about connected-car data with a clear pledge: it says it will not sell customers’ driving information to data brokers. Announced on November 2, the initiative includes a website explaining what information is collected, why it is used and how drivers can adjust their settings.
The approach emphasizes customer choice rather than abandoning connected features. Ford says vehicle data can support safety improvements, real-time vehicle-health information and future technology research. Customers can opt out of some sharing, though doing so may disable services such as real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance.
The pledge also sets Ford apart after General Motors agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims involving the sale of driver and location information. Ford says it will use aggregation and anonymization to protect data and will not sell driving information to brokers or use it for targeted advertising.
The promise does not replace Ford’s formal privacy policy and vehicle terms. Those documents allow certain sharing, including with service providers and in response to police requests. Public claims can be challenged by the FTC and state attorneys general if they are deceptive. Ford’s test will be whether its stated commitments and customer controls hold up as vehicles become more connected.
Reported by TechCrunch, The Verge.
