The Privacy4Cars App is designed for auto businesses but includes a few consumer features. Get more info on what the app does and how user data is treated differently in each section.
FOR AUTO BUSINESSES:
Join hundreds of retail and wholesale auto businesses who rely on our multi-patented process to quickly and intuitively delete personal information consumers often leave behind, manage data deletion activities for the vehicles in your inventory, automatically build compliance records, share certificates of deletion with customers, and make fair disclosures to consumers about the data practices of vehicles, including what data the manufacturer and popular in-vehicle services collect and share/sell. Privacy4Cars is also available as a Software Development Kit (SDK) so you can add these features to your own app.
More than 4 out of 5 vehicles are resold at dealerships and auto auctions while still containing the data of prior users. Not deleting unencrypted data of consumers stored in electronic devices (e.g. collected from sensors and from the smartphones and tablets consumers connect to vehicles, such as home address, garage codes, geolocation records, text messages, biometrics, various identifiers, photos taken, files downloaded, etc.) puts your business at risk of fines, lawsuits, and regulatory action (200+ laws regulate it).
More than 9 out of 10 dealership associates are unable to make even simple data privacy disclosures to consumers who are shopping for vehicles. Not representing fully or correctly the data capabilities and practices of automakers and of popular service providers is a significant Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices (UDAP) legal risk.
Both issues also create significant exposure from a reputation and continued business operations standpoint.
Conversely, having an efficient, robust, and repeatable process to delete consumer personal information from vehicles and being able to reliably make privacy disclosures for cars for sale can turn privacy into a business advantage and a source of differentiation and growth.
Find out more at https://privacy4cars.com.
FOR CONSUMERS:
If during the registration process you identify as a consumer, the Privacy4Cars app has a distinct set of consumer features and your data is treated differently (e.g. GPS positioning is no longer mandatory because we don’t need to create compliance records, your activity is not actively monitored because there is no need to manage KPIS and activity reports, etc.). We try, within the constraint of having a singular app for two very different audiences, to minimize collection and use of your data. Importantly, we do not believe you should be accessing these features by “paying with your data”: we don’t have an ad business and we don’t sell this data nor share it unless you specifically ask us to (e.g. by appointing us as your agent to reduce your vehicle data footprint).
Registration is required both to determine which features and data practices need to be applied to your account, and to prevent businesses from using free features that are meant for consumers.
In the app, consumers can access Vehicle Privacy Reports, they can find auto businesses who are responsibly taking action to protect the data of consumers, and can self-delete data from their vehicles if their dealership or car rental company does not.
Odd that a privacy focused app forces you to make an account.
The information is helpful, but can also be found elsewhere online for free. You can get two free tutorials here, but it seems strange to pay for this service.
Response from developer
Hello, as we continue to offer the app as a free download for consumers, we had to introduce a registration process to prevent abuse. While our business customers and users (dealerships, fleets, etc.) pay for our service, we provide 2 scans for free for consumers.