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Ford Introduces the Ford Privacy Promise to Protect Customer Data
Ford says its new privacy promise will explain data collection and sharing, as a survey found 91% of consumers view privacy as a key issue.
Ford Chief Privacy Officer Kristin Jones unveiled a "Privacy Promise" and new website on Monday to clarify data collection practices, providing an explicit commitment to keep customer vehicle data safe and give them control over sharing.
General Motors' $220 million settlement last week with 36 states over unauthorized data sharing prompted Ford's initiative. Mozilla recently labeled connected vehicles "the worst category of products for privacy" in a review.
Jones confirmed Ford will not sell driving data to third-party brokers. The automaker intends to use collected information to "support research and development for future technologies" rather than monetization.
While 91% of consumers surveyed identified privacy as a key consideration, Ford notes disabling data sharing comes with trade-offs. Turning off "connected services" can limit features like real-time navigation and roadside assistance.
Ford's transparency efforts position the company for upcoming launches, including vehicles built on its "universal electric vehicle" platform. Future success depends on earning user confidence as connectivity becomes standard across the automotive industry.