The Majority of Clients Mistrust Data Security in the Car

Data security doesn’t only concern the computer or smartphone; meanwhile modern cars also have become data collectors. According to a survey from DEKRA, the majority of drivers this issue as critical.

Germans mistrust the security of data collected in the car, almost all of the vehicles are connected with the manufacturers via mobile communication. (Picture: Torsten Seibt)

In a joint survey, DEKRA and the opinion research institute Ipsos found out that only 27 per cent of buyers of a new car are confident that the data collected about the driver and driving behavior are safe. However, according to the study, 50 per cent are distrustful. One quarter of the drivers (23 %) isn’t sure yet.

Three quarters (73 %) of all buyers of a new car criticize that despite a consent given when the car is purchased, it is not clear which data about the car and the driver are collected. Already today, four out of ten (39 %) respondents feel observed in their car. Eight out of ten (81 %) are worried that  the threat by hackers to car and data safety will increase.“ In future, a sensitive interacting with the fears of the clients about their data security will be one of the big challenges in car business. The increasing interconnection of cars and collection of data is unstoppable”, says Dr. Kai Geertsema from Ipsos Automotive.

Dissemination of data is seen as critical

The dissemination of personal data is still seen as critical. A large part of German car buyers is especially not willing to transmit data about payment transactions (73 %), tracking data of driven routes (71 %) as well as video footage on drowsiness detection (69 %). On the other hand, almost half of the respondents (48 %) would be okay passing information about fuel consumption to the manufacturers or the garages. Four out of ten drivers would agree to share data on accidents even with other parties, like the police or insurance companies.

Also telematics services, that some car insurances are offering, do interest only few buyers of new cars. Despite extensive information and the chance of reducing the insurance costs when driving correctly, only one quarter (27%) would sign a contract allowing the insurance companies to register the driving behavior via a built-in box.

Read more: Cybersecurity: Need for Action Increasing