Skip to main content

Digital Single Market: FIA demands data protection regulation for connected cars

The European Parliament is to adopt the ‘Towards a Digital Single Market Act’ as a follow-up to the digital single market strategy for Europe presented by the Commission. The report emphasises the need for the EU to embrace the potential of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to digitise the industry and maintain global competitiveness. Jacob Bangsgaard, FIA Region I director general said: “Mobility-related applications will in the coming years have a tremendous impact on the way
January 20, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The European Parliament is to adopt the ‘Towards a Digital Single Market Act’ as a follow-up to the digital single market strategy for Europe presented by the Commission. The report emphasises the need for the EU to embrace the potential of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to digitise the industry and maintain global competitiveness.

Jacob Bangsgaard, 8054 FIA Region I director general said: “Mobility-related applications will in the coming years have a tremendous impact on the way we move, navigate and get informed during our travels. It is essential that European legislation on data protection ensures that we retain the ownership of personal data also when this data is collected by the transport mode we use. Consumers should always have the possibility to choose their preferred service provider, and not be trapped within a certain ecosystem of one provider.

“We invite the EU to use the Digital Single Market as an opportunity to define robust data protection regulation ensuring that consumers fully benefit from the connected world. We should always make sure that the citizens decide by whom and under which conditions their personal data can be used.”

Within the legislation, FIA Region I especially welcomes the European Parliament’s call to “develop a coordinated strategy on connectivity in the transport sector and, in particular, to establish a regulatory framework for connected vehicles to ensure interoperability with different services, including remote diagnostics and maintenance, and applications in order to uphold fair competition and to satisfy a strong need for products which comply with cyber-security and data protection requirements, but also to ensure the physical security of passengers”.

FIA Region I’s My Car My Data campaign is currently being carried out throughout Europe, based on a technical test and public survey on connected cars. FIA says the results of these enquiries indicate a clear disconnect in what is being tracked and what citizens are willing to accept when it comes to car data. It claims that not only strong data protection, but informed consent and free choice of service providers need to be addressed.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A short guide to the shared mobility galaxy
    April 28, 2021
    This spring, a new book will be published with the mind-blowing title Shared Mobility Rocks: a Planner’s Guide to the Shared Mobility Galaxy. ITS International asks co-authors Friso Metz and Rebecca Karbaumer to share their golden rules
  • Automotive vehicle to everything (V2X) communications market 2016-2026
    June 20, 2016
    Research by Visiongain claims that the worldwide demand for connected cars is increasing at a rapid pace. Last year, the amount of customers willing to change the car brand for better connectivity has almost doubled. The willingness to pay the subscription for connected services went up by 10% in the same period. Chinese consumers are especially excited about car connectivity; more than half are willing to change their car for better connectivity. Visiongain assesses that sales of new passenger cars equi
  • With C-ITS we can get ourselves connected
    June 27, 2025
    Workzones need to be safer for drivers and workers – and the technology exists to harmonise safety with mobility needs, says Swarco’s Daniel Lenczowski
  • ANPR - cost-efficient traffic management, enforcement and more
    January 23, 2012
    Geoff Collins of Vysionics Intelligent Traffic Solutions talks about the near-term prospects of ANPR. The continued absence of a champion for its cause is preventing digital enforcement technology from delivering the true levels of cost-effectiveness of which it is capable, according to Geoff Collins, sales and marketing director of ANPR specialist Vysionics Intelligent Traffic Solutions.