U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., has sent a letter to 13 car manufacturers calling for more transparency regarding the collection of driver data. Merkley is seeking clarity on whether or not the companies are collecting data, and if so, he wants to know details on the type of data, ownership and storage. "While data plays an integral role in advancing new technology to maximize consumer benefits and bolster the American automotive industry, it is necessary to understand the scope, purpose, and extent to which our cars collect data," Merkley wrote. "It is understandable that this data is used to improve performance and safety, though it may be unclear to many consumers what level of ownership they have over the data collected by the car they own or are leasing." Merkley is hoping for a response from companies within 30 days.
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