Posted on Friday, April 29 2011 @ 21:52 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Following the smartphone tracking controversy, it appears GPS navigation units may also be dangerous to your privacy as TomTom has admitted that it sold traffic data to the Dutch police. The data is gathered anonymously when TomTom users synchronize their GPS unit online, it contains information about where you drive and also how fast you travel. The latter data was used by the Dutch police to set targeted speed traps.
But TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn said the company only had the best of intentions, because the company believes it "can help make roads safer and less congested.
"We are now aware that the police have used traffic information that you have helped to create to place speed cameras at dangerous locations where the average speed is higher than the legally allowed speed limit," he said in a mea culpa emailed to customers. "We are aware a lot of our customers do not like the idea and we will look at if we should allow this type of usage."
Goddijn said the data is collected anonymously and users have the choice to opt in or out at any time. The historical data is also collected in order to help give drivers the "fastest route available" and to "make roads flow more efficiently and safer."
Source: PC Mag
