Ford Exec: 'We Know Everyone Who Breaks The Law' Thanks To Our GPS In Your Car

[jakeXT]

Ford's Global VP/Marketing and Sales, Jim Farley, said something both sinister and obvious during a panel discussion about data privacy today at CES, the big electronics trade show in Las Vegas.

Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when its drivers are speeding, and where they are while they're doing it.

Farley was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its customers, and illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order to avoid raising privacy concerns: "We know everyone who breaks the law, we know when you're doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what you're doing. By the way, we don't supply that data to anyone," he told attendees.

Rather, he said, he imagined a day when the data might be used anonymously and in aggregate to help other marketers with traffic related problems. Suppose a stadium is holding an event; knowing how much traffic is making its way toward the arena might help the venue change its parking lot resources accordingly, he said.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ford-exec-gps-2014-1

[jsr]

1. "By the way, we don't supply that data to anyone"

I believe it. LOL

[dionysus]

13. if they did, wouldn't you erxpect people to somehow be ticketed for speeding?

[upaloopa]

2. The information does not need to be saved.

I like my navigation system in my mustang. When My fuel level gets below 50 miles to empty it points out the service stations on my route. It tells me of traffic incidents ahead. It will call 911 if I get into a serious accident.
But that information should not be stored in a Ford data base.

[Vashta Nerada]

3. I was told by many here last week that it's okay to speed in the left lane of the highway.

And people know when it's happening.

Huh.

[Orrex]

11. I think you misunderstood the discussion last week.

It's not "okay to speed in the left lane."

In fact, it's mandatory, and if you don't do it then you're an asshole with a death wish and where the fuck did you get your license and holy shit there are actual drivers trying to pass you and would you get your goddamn jalopy over into the kiddie lane so the grown-ups can drive?


Accuracy is key.

[Vashta Nerada]

14. No.

If speeding in the left lane was mandatory, then what's the point of speed limit signs? To look pretty on the side of the highway?

[Orrex]

16. Guess I need to reread those threads.

Seemed pretty clear that the prevailing sentiment was that cars in the left line must not decelerate for any reason.

[4Q2u2]

4. Police

Police for years have impounded a cars "Black Box" when there is a serious accident. It tells them all that they want to know. Trucking companies have used this for years to keep their drivers from speeding and driving over their hour limit. They can remotely govern the speed and notify the driver to pull over and then they will disable the vehicle.

[Xipe Totec]

5. You better watch out

You better not run
Better not drag race
I'm telling you why
GPS is snitching you out

FORD's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out Who's speeding at night
GPS is snitching you out

FORD sees you when you're speeding
FORD knows when you drag race
FORD knows if you drive fast or slow
So go slow for goodness sake!

[MineralMan]

6. And what will Ford do when presented with a subpoena, demanding

information on what a vehicle with a particular VIN number was doing on a certain date and time? That is the question that he hasn't answered, and now that everyone knows that the information exists, it will be subpoenaed in both criminal and civil cases.

Ford says it has the information. It will be demanded, I guarantee.

[RC]

7. What subpoena? The NSA will lean on Ford, with a gift of free room and board for the CEO, for that

information.

See, no subpoena needed.

[MineralMan]

8. The NSA doesn't care where you drove your Ford in any way.

An insurance company might, though, and insurance companies can get a subpoena. Insurance companies care about how you're driving your Ford.

The police might care, too, in case you were driving somewhere from the scene of a crime. They can get a court order to force Ford to turn over such information.

The FBI might also be interested in your driving habits for one reason or another. It can get a subpoena or court order, too.

The NSA? It doesn't give a shit about you and your Ford.

[RC]

10. It is information on where people are and go.

So yes the NSA is interested. The NSA is interested in you cell phone meta data and communications, why not the more accurate GPS data also? More stuff to blackmail people into doing what they want done.

[MineralMan]

12. Your confusing the NSA with the FBI.

The NSA is all about international SIGINT. The FBI does the domestic stuff. Different letters of the alphabet. Different missions.

You want the FBI with regard to this GPS data. That's the FBI's job.

[eShirl]

9. No wonder the kids these days aren't so hot to get their driver's licenses.

[mrdmk]

15. I say Bull-Shit

There have been cases where people's warranties have been voided because you have cruised along at 80 mph or better for an hour or two. This was related to GM's On-Star...

[Orsino]

17. What kind of GPS phones home to Ford?

Is the data transmitted in near-real time by something like OnStar? Or is it logged for readout during maintenance checks?

Vanilla GPS is not a two-way communications device.

[Orsino]

20. Ah, the nonexistent kind imagined by clueless executives ignorant of technology.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/10/ford-official-backtracks-after-saying-gps-helps-company-track-bad-drivers/

[jmowreader]

18. Just wait till the Republicans get hold of this

We all know about the Harvard (?) Grad students' research project to show how metadata can be collected. Tying GPS data to traffic signals, speed limit grids etc., and you can expect letters like this:

COMPU-COP Electronic Citation(tm)
June 12, 2020
Dear Motorist:
Our high tech traffic enforcement system has recorded the following infractions in the month of May. Please remit.
Thirty speed violations less than 10mph over @ $50/violation: $1500
Ten speed violations more than 10mph over @ $100/violation: $1000
One failure to move over for a stopped emergency vehicle: $250
Parking in handicapped spot without authorization, three violations at $250 per violation: $750
Unauthorized stop on Interstate shoulder, 10 violations at $200/violation: $2000
Total: $5500. All fines due immediately.

Response from motorist:
The transmission in my car locked up on April 12. It took until June 9 to get the new one. I refuse to pay fines I couldn't have aaccrued.

COMPU-COP response:
The COMPU-COP system has never made a mistake. It has a perfect operational record. If we say you committed $5500 worth of crimes, you did.

Motorist:
Attached is an affidavit from my neighbor, who saw my car on blocks all that time; the ocean freight bill for the new transmission; a receipt for the bicycle I used to get to work; and aa hospital bill from the time a truck ran my bike off the road.

CC:
The infractions stand. Pay up.

Motorist:
I have moved to the heart of sub-saharan Africa and have joined a tribe of headhunters. They are to a man deeply hostile toward computers. If you want this money, come get it.

[GeorgeGist]

19. If I'm head of FORD ...

I'm firing Mr. Farley pronto.