Now TomTom apologises for selling customer satnav data... which police used to set up speed traps



Satnav device manufacturer TomTom has apologised for selling customer data which police then used to set speed traps.

The firm today admitted Dutch police had obtained traffic information from the government and used it to clamp down on drivers in targetted operations.

In an emailed apology, TomTom chief executive Harold Goddijn said the company sold the anonymous data believing it would be used to improve safety or relieve traffic bottlenecks.

Satnav controversy: TomTom today admitted Dutch police had obtained traffic data gathered by its devices and used it to clamp down on speeding drivers

'We never foresaw this kind of use and many of our clients are not happy about it,' he wrote.

He promised licensing agreements would 'prevent this type of use in the future'.

TomTom devices gather a vehicle's speed information automatically. This data is then backed up on a database so the satnav firm can improve their products' performance.

Many users are today furious that their data is being passed on to help police enforce speed limits.

One Twitter user, Stammy, said: 'Never using TomTom again.'

But the company claims it had no idea the data would end up in the hands of the police.

TomTom's statement said: 'We make this information available to local governments and authorities.

'It helps them to better understand where congestion takes place, where to build new roads and how to make roads safer.

'e are now aware that the police have used traffic information that you have helped to create to place speed cameras at dangerous locations where the average speed is higher than the legally allowed speed limit.

'We are aware a lot of our customers do not like the idea and we will look at if we should allow this type of usage.'

The news came on the same day that TomTom reported first quarter net profit of £9.6million, up from £2.7million euro in the same period a year earlier. It also reported worse-than-expected sales of £235million, a 1 per cent decline.