Electric cars and driverless cars — the personal data sharing and privacy issue

Question for written answer  E-001830/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Julie Lechanteux (ID)

Speaking by video link at the China Development Forum on 20 March 2021, Elon Musk, the owner of the American electric car manufacturer Tesla, had to assure the Chinese authorities that Chinese customers’ data were fully protected and that his company would not collect sensitive or private data, such as images taken by the on-board cameras in his cars or navigation data, in order then to share them with the US Government.

Elon Musk’s statement came in the wake of the Chinese Government’s decision to restrict use of Tesla’s cars by military personnel or employees of its main public enterprises, due to Beijing’s fears that sensitive data, such as images taken by the cars’ cameras, could be sent to the United States.

The growth in electric vehicles today, and of driverless cars in the near future, does indeed raise serious issues in regard not just to the safety of these vehicles but also the sharing of personal data and privacy.

How will the Commission ensure that foreign governments will not capitalise on data collected by the automotive industry in countries outside of the EU?