TomTom has been cooperating with the Dutch Data Protection Authority
(the "CBP”) in recent months to confirm TomTom is fully compliant with
privacy laws. The Data Protection Authority found that TomTom has never
shared its customers’ private location data with third parties. It also
states that TomTom should be clearer in communicating to its
customers about how their data is used to generate TomTom’s mapping,
routing and traffic services.
To this end, in February there will be a software update on all TomTom
consumer products. This update will provide customers with detailed
information about what customer location information TomTom gathers, how
TomTom uses customers’ location data and how customers can easily opt in
and out of sharing their location data if they wish to. TomTom has a
created a dedicated section on www.tomtom.com/yourdata,
to clearly explain how it uses and safeguards location data.
"By providing a better explanation on what data is obtained from our
customers and how and why it is used, we avoid any unnecessary
surprises. We have always safeguarded the data contributions made by our
customers. We want to reassure all our customers that we use data to
profile roads and traffic, and not individual people”, says Alain De
Taeye, Member of the Management Board of TomTom NV.
These steps coincide with the CBP’s publication of the findings from
their investigation on TomTom’s use of location data. In their report
they underline that TomTom’s sharing of data to third parties does not
constitute a violation of Dutch privacy law. But the CBP did find that
TomTom did not provide sufficient information about what data was being
collected and how it was used when asking for customer permission to
gather that information. However, on first judgment the CBP concluded,
that the implementation of the software update with the new, more
detailed consent statement announced today resolves this.
– ENDS –
About TomTom
TomTom is a global supplier of location and navigation products and
services. We provide consumers and enterprise, government and automotive
industry customers with digital maps, traffic intelligence, navigation
software, portable navigation devices, automotive systems, fleet
management services, smartphone apps, fitness devices, POIs and speedcam
intelligence.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and operates
from 50 locations in 35 countries.
TomTom (AEX: TOM2) is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be
found at www.tomtom.com.
For the most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic
information please visit www.tomtom.com/livetraffic
