GAO went out and spoke with automakers (like Tesla, Toyota, Honda and more), experts and other stakeholders about what kind of data connected vehicles are currently collecting, how and where it is being shared, and the existing federal-level efforts to safeguard consumer data privacy.
Turns out, there’s some confusion about whether and to what extent NHTSA plays a role in data privacy regulation of smart vehicles. “NHTSA has not clearly defined and communicated its roles and responsibilities related to the privacy of connected vehicle data to stakeholders,” the report states.