The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has adopted the final version of guidelines on connected cars. In addition, the EDPB adopted a first version of guidelines on virtual voice assistants.
With the guidelines, the European privacy regulators, united in the EDPB, explain the privacy rules for a specific topic.
Modern cars are often "connected. They are driving computers, connected to the Internet. In the process, they often collect personal data, such as location data and driving style data.
Car manufacturers and parties such as car rental companies must respect the privacy of the driver of the car in doing so. These guidelines help those parties do so.
The EDPB published the first version of the guidelines for connected vehicles in February 2020. After that, interested parties, such as the auto industry itself, were able to comment on the document. The EDPB incorporated those comments into the final version of the Guidelines on connected vehicles.
A virtual voice assistant or virtual voice assistant is an application that you control with your voice. It is on most phones, tablets and computers today (such as Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa).
But increasingly, voice assistants are also built into other devices, such as smart speakers. A voice assistant knows a lot about you, such as your search history and appointments in your calendar.
In the Guidelines on virtual voice assistants, the EDPB prescribes how parties offering or developing voice assistants should handle personal data processed in the process.
The guidelines on voice assistants are not yet final. Interested parties can comment until April 23, 2021, via the EDPB's website. After the consultation, the EDPB will adopt the final guidelines.
The English versions of the guidelines are now available on the EDPB website. The Dutch translations will follow later.
