California Bill Would Give Drivers Control Over Car Computer Data

State Senator Bill Monning, who authored the bill, says the manufacturers now hold all the cards in who can access on-board electronic data.

“My bill is designed to protect the consumer’s right to direct who today can access that information, or to whom I might direct it for purposes of repair or different types of computer application,” says Monning.

Backers of the bill say smart technologies in cars are expanding at such a pace that all new cars sold by 2025 will come equipped with connectivity devices.

Curt Augustine with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers says SB 994 would actually make driver’s information less secure.

“It’s a single interest bill that would promote the dissemination of information to insurance companies on driver behavior,” says Augustine.

Bill supporters say current state law already guards against that by limiting to mileage what insurance companies can collect from on-board data systems.