The history of the car is glorious. The invention of the wheel was certainly a step in the right direction. But when the car was invented at the turn of the century, no one knew what the capabilities of the mobile device would be. Not only has it become one of the most reliable forms of transportation, it has become a man’s best friend. The car is a status symbol, and the functionality of the car is an indicator of the livelihood of the person driving it. What people didn’t realize is the fact that one day it would become the subject of much controversy regarding privacy.
While the invention of GPS was an important step in security and tracking, GPS-equipped cars could be doing a little more. They are elegant and smart, and many people prefer and feel more secure in them. However, recent revelations seem to indicate that the GPS device may be a little smarter than most of us think. According to experts in automotive technology, the fact that one knows exactly where the person is driving at any given time could have enormous potential. One may be able to manipulate that information to acquire and sell personal information. Selling personal information has the potential to make someone earn money. Cars track people in the same way that smartphones do today. The instances of using smartphones to obtain personal information are not new.
Targeted advertising services and marketing make it more lucrative. This is the reason why there is greater political will to try to stop this growing trend. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is leading the demand for federal regulations to control any potential violation of privacy. According to the senator, GPS devices, black boxes, and vehicle-to-vehicle devices collect a lot of information that vehicle manufacturers can collect and sell. It calls on relevant organizations, the national road safety administration and the federal trade commission to establish clear guidelines on the type of data these devices can collect. Their suggestions also go as far as giving drivers the option to opt out of such programs that collect your personal information.
There is some truth to these allegations of espionage and information gathering. If the car tracks where the individual is going, then he knows the person’s favorite places. Track and record all movement so you know where the person unwinds during their free time, where they eat, and who they visit. Auto Tracking even knows people’s favorite vacation destinations. But do car companies share this information? In his justification, Senator Schumer cites a study by the government’s accountability office. It reveals that up to 90 percent of automakers, security and tracking devices share the information they collect. And in this case, it would be wise to use a 10-frequency gps jammer because car eavesdropping is a troubling trend, and the fact that it takes advantage of devices that people trust to keep them safe makes it even worse.