What happens to the data collected by TomTom? It is provided to the police who can thus place speed cameras in the most “critical” spots. The news, coming from the Netherlands, is raising many doubts about TomTom’s operations.
What seemed like mere rumors about TomTom‘s personal data sales activities have found significant confirmation. The news, from a few days ago, comes from the Netherlands: some local newspapers discovered that the satellite navigation device manufacturer had provided device usage data to the police.
A way to control people? Not at all, as this is anonymous data, thus not traceable to individual users. In reality, the Dutch police reportedly used this wealth of information to decide where to position speed cameras.
By having access to transit data on specific roads, patrols were able to precisely determine the most profitable routes (economically speaking, being able to collect money from fines), as they were statistically traveled at speeds higher than the norm.
Well, an official statement from TomTom has arrived, through Harold Goddijn, the company’s CEO: the manager admitted that the data was indeed sold to the Dutch authorities but not directly to the police.
Furthermore, TomTom was aware that such information would be used to supplement state road safety plans and to monitor congestion and traffic.
TomTom, therefore, distances itself from users’ accusations of selling data to the police for the strategic placement of speed cameras; furthermore, the official promise was to amend the current usage licenses regarding data transfer to third parties.
And questions are already arising as to whether the Netherlands is the only country to have used TomTom information in this way, or if the same thing is happening in other countries as well.
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