In-Vehicle Cameras Under Consideration for Ad Sales and Artificial Intelligence Training by Waymo
In a move towards transparency and data privacy, Waymo, Alphabet's robotaxi business, has announced a new policy on the use of passenger data collected from in-vehicle cameras. This policy aims to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), a landmark state law that grants residents control over their personal data.
The CCPA empowers consumers with rights such as the right to know what data is collected, the purposes for which it is used, the ability to opt-out of data sales, and the right to request deletion. For Waymo to comply, it must clearly disclose what data from in-vehicle cameras is collected, how it will be used (e.g., for advertising or AI model training), and provide mechanisms for passenger consent or opt-out, consistent with CCPA requirements.
The new policy will offer California riders an opportunity to opt-out of data collection for machine learning (ML) training purposes. According to the policy, Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality, and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to riders' interests.
The policy was originally discovered by software researcher Jane Manchun Wong, known for finding unreleased updates in companies' software. A screenshot provided by Wong shows the terms of use that Waymo plans to ask riders to comply with.
Waymo's ML systems are not designed to use this data to identify individual people. The data collected, among other things, is used to train models for safety, keep cars clean, find lost items, provide emergency help, ensure in-vehicle rules are followed, and improve products and services.
The new policy on data usage comes as Waymo becomes the dominant player in California's self-driving car industry following the swift implosion of its core competitor Cruise (owned by GM). Waymo has also recently partnered with Uber, signalling an expansion of services.
However, Waymo disputes that the leaked policy accurately reflects the purpose of the new feature. The company has not yet released an official statement on the new policy.
The California Consumer Privacy Act is one of the only comprehensive state privacy laws in the country. Its implementation underscores the growing scrutiny autonomous vehicle companies face on data handling, with related proposed regulations such as Congressman Kevin Mullin’s AV Safety Data Act calling for disclosure of data collection.
As Waymo continues to lead the self-driving car industry, its commitment to privacy and transparency, as demonstrated by its new policy, will be closely watched by regulators and consumers alike.
- Waymo's new policy on the use of passenger data aligns with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), a state law that grants residents control over their personal data.
- The CCPA empowers consumers to opt-out of data sales, request deletion, and know what data is collected and how it will be used.
- Waymo's new policy allows California riders to opt-out of data collection for machine learning (ML) training purposes.
- Waymo's new policy on data usage is significant in the tech and business world, as it comes as Waymo becomes the dominant player in California's self-driving car industry and partners with Uber, signalling an expansion of services.
