Driving apps that sell your info
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These apps track your driving habits and sell that information to insurance companies
Some are seemingly innocent-looking apps like mileage trackers
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Woah.
Arity uses the data it collects to create driving scores and then sells them to auto insurance companies, which use the data to set rates for drivers using the apps. Arity claims it has over 40 million "active connections" to US drivers, who have opted into sharing their driving data through "consumer mobile apps, in-car devices, and connected cars."
So in other words, it's not generic data about how "people" drive, it's data that says specifically "this is how Mary Smith of Springfield USA drives."
Wow.
I'm glad I don't use any of those apps. And I have also consciously avoided those apps that car insurance companies try to get you to install as well.
But isn't it just a matter of time before GPS apps start doing that? I use Google maps all the time, and I'm logged in so my profile data could theoretically be matched with any tracking the map app does.
Brave new world.
smh.