PC Pro clicky

TomTom caught selling data user data to the police in the Netherlands. And shock, horror, the police used the speed data to find out where most people speed and installed cameras at those points.

Queue a whole lot of p*ssed off users.

Looks more like a money raisimg scheme by the police. I would be certain that the users did not sign up for this use of their data being retained. Maybe a data misuse case?

If the police had thought of it first, could they not have got a court order to obtain the data? I'd expect a lot of forces to try that now. I don't think there can be a data protection prosecution if the data has been collated and anonymised - as long as they say '3000 drivers did 40KPH at this spot' rather than 'Joe Bloggs did 40KPH at this post' they can't be done for revealing personal information.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I kind of don't mind this as long as it is anonymised. If the police are going to police speed limits, I want them to base that policing on hard data not just what they feel like doing, which is exactly what this is. They're using hard data to see where the speed limits aren't being kept to. I'd actually like it more if as part of the process they would consider if the speed limit in that area could be changed i.e. Lots of people speed & accidents = put in a speed camera; lots of people speed & no accidents = speed limit raised a bit. Maybe the Dutch police are doing that but sadly I don't think our police would be that enlightened.

The answer?

Use a map. It doesn't send your speed data to anyone, and it won't direct you into a river*...



*unless you can't read said map, but then that's your own fault...

It's against the law to use a map while driving. It's also bloody dangerous.

Or buy a cheap satnav that doesn't have the advanced features/hardware to transmit data.