Dutch Data Protection Authority positive about TomTom
AMSTERDAM — (BUSINESS WIRE) — January 12, 2012 — 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.
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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
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