Data retention: AAMI Safe Driver app could see information handed to police, premiums go up

Updated

Insurance giant AAMI could hand over data to police from its Safe Driver App and is leaving the door open to increasing insurance premiums based on a driver's score.

AAMI is promoting the app aimed at young drivers because of what it says is a rise in illegal driving behaviour, including texting, phoning and speeding.

But while it records and rewards safe driving, the app also logs speeding, accelerating, hard-braking and phone usage.

When asked whether police could access the app's data, AAMI acknowledged that it "may supply driving data and personal information to the police... when legally compelled to do so".

AAMI has boasted that one of the app's "cool features" is that it "creates a map of each journey and identifies the points... where an 'incident' occurred".

If there is an accident, the company says it does "... not currently use data from the app in the claims process".

A bad driving score also does not "currently negatively affect ... [drivers'] premiums".

AAMI has since told the ABC it believes handing over such data to police is "highly unlikely" and described this story as "scaremongering".

"The intention of the app was never to collect data to provide to police nor have the police request data from us," an AAMI spokesman said in a statement.

"Our pilot study of the App involving more than 1,000 drivers suggested that it had a significant positive impact on the way people drive."

AAMI points out that it is optional for drivers to "disclose who they are on the app".

But cyber-security expert Wade Alcorn said it would take minimal effort to identify an individual user if the company or police chose to do so.

AAMI's Safe Driver app is "a good example of how consumers can give up more information than they realise and then find it might be used in a different way in the future," Mr Alcorn said.

Most consumers did not understand the vast amount of personal information being captured and stored by the digital economy, he said.

An increasing number of devices and gadgets such as mobile phones, computers, tablets, smart TVs and wearable technology leave a detailed digital exhaust trail showing where individuals are, who they are emailing, texting or talking to and what they are searching for or purchasing online.

Using hidden cameras, the ABC's Lateline program recorded how people reacted when routine digital requests for personal information, such as text messages and location, were posed by a shop assistant.

Expert warns all users should be thinking about encryption

One of the world's leading experts in data security and privacy, Bruce Schneier, called on consumers to learn how to encrypt their digital communications to evade what he describes as constant, unregulated, mass corporate and government surveillance of personal data.

"There are tools that are easily ... searchable that you can use to protect your privacy," Mr Schneier said.

"I recommend using them all. I recommend encrypting your hard drive, encrypting your cell phone.

"There are apps so that you can make sure you use an encrypted link between you and your web server; there are apps for encrypted messaging."

Tips for better online privacy Turn on maximum privacy settings on all social media and re-check the settings regularly; Always sign out of online accounts (eg email, Facebook) when you are not using them; Wherever possible tap 'don't allow' when apps ask to access your location, photos, contacts, etc; Put a sticker over your web cam when not in use; Use private mode on your web browser whenever possible. In Firefox and Safari it's 'Private Window', in Chrome it's 'Incognito' and in IE it's 'InPrivate Browsing' Source: Cyber security expert Wade Alcorn Source: Cyber security expert Wade Alcorn

Last week Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged he used the secret messaging service, Wickr, which encrypts and then destroys messages.

It is not a guarantee of absolute privacy but such tools can make it harder to track an individual.

"We're giving away a lot of privacy," Mr Schneier said.

"The 'nothing to hide, nothing to fear' argument ... is ridiculous. Privacy is not about something to hide.

"Privacy's about human dignity, privacy's about individuality.

"Privacy is about being able to decide when we show ourselves to other people.

"The harm is being under constant scrutiny.

"We know that people who are under constant surveillance are more conformist, they're less individual, less free."

While people have questioned the extent of government surveillance, there was too little discussion about the vast streams of personal data being logged every day by corporations and often given to governments, Mr Schneier said.

"I think of it as the public-private surveillance partnership," he said.

"It's really hard to separate the two because data the government collects, corporations use; data that corporations collect, governments use.

"They both help each other, they support each other."

Topics: information-and-communication, internet-culture, mobile-phones, traffic-offences, computers-and-technology, australia

First posted