GPS-based systems can be private and acceptable.

Privacy and Acceptability

If a system isn’t private, and isn’t perceived to private, drivers will resist using it. Perhaps the most important point for successful public sector programs is to address the issue of privacy forcefully, up front, and repeatedly. Private sector firms also can find a lack of privacy damages their reputation. Addressing privacy convincingly can only be done when your system is truly private, like Skymeter’s.

Privacy is only one of the features considered by Skymeter's built-in ‘acceptability by design’. Every element of the system and service has been examined to make it easy, natural and simple for businesses and drivers. Features include billing verification, fully automatic operation, multiple installation options, and an optional screen and added services.

How to Combine Privacy and GPS

Telematics was historically developed for tracking and security, where phone chips called out positions every second, and privacy was compromised by definition. Classic telematics is inappropriate for private citizens, and is unnecessary for charging. Preserving privacy is simple: don't call out positions. If your location never leaves the vehicle, you have location privacy. Instead, use Financial Grade GPS to calculate charges on board, and only send out the billing information.

Dial-Up Privacy

The Skymeter system is designed to offer different levels of, or ‘dial-up’, privacy. The dial trades off privacy vs. verification. Privacy advocates should note that if position data is not stored, the driver can never verify or challenge their bill.

In the primary, suggested, privacy mode (in green), position data is stored in the in-car meter. The driver must present their meter for download of the encrypted data to challenge their invoice. Data cannot be removed and used for any other purpose. As each bill is paid, data is then erased.

Drivers who wish more convenient access to their data may request meter settings (in yellow or orange), where encrypted location data is available on your smart phone or on a secure online location under password control. Commercial fleet services may even wish to have location data to help protect driver personal safety (in red). In all cases, only your aggregate billing data will be sent to the external invoicing service. These methods can be certified and remain under user control for optimal privacy protection.

The strongest privacy protection is possible if the driver gives up the right to challenge the bill (in blue). For instance, payment can be taken from a pre-paid anonymous account with positions erased on payment. Similar full position erasing functionality can be provided through a button.

Skymeter Meets Privacy Legislation Guidelines

Skymeter's subscribes to the guidelines of the International Working Group
on Data Protection in Telecommunications (IWGDPT):

1. Preservation of driver anonymity.
2. Location data always remaining under the driver's control.
3. Off-board location record keeping not required.
4. Trip data is fully and irreversibly deleted after the bill is paid.
5. The system is prevented from creating movement profiles.
6. Using data for additional purposes requires unambiguous consent.
7. Enforcement not capturing personal data unless a violation occurs.

Skymeter's chief scientist being interviewed on privacy