Japan: Data of 2M Toyota Customers Exposed

Facts

• On Friday, Toyota revealed that the data of more than 2M customers in Japan was publicly accessible for over a decade due to human error, including details such as vehicle location, identification numbers, and footage recorded by the vehicle.¹
• Since 2012, data from the Connected cloud service offered by Toyota had been mistakenly made public, with the company reassuring customers that individuals couldn't be identified based on the information and that there was no evidence of malicious use of the data.²
• A company spokesperson apologized for the leak and stated that Toyota would "audit and monitor cloud settings continuously" in the wake of the incident, as well as bolster their data handling procedures.³
• Toyota's Connected service reminds customers of scheduled maintenance, helps locate the vehicle, connects to entertainment services, and assists during emergencies. G-Link and G-Book services were also included in the breach, with the company reassuring customers that the issues had been dealt with.⁴
• Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission has stated it's aware of the incident but declined to comment as per its policy on individual incidents.²

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Reuters, ³TechCentral.ie, and ⁴ABC News.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by PIA VPN. Internet-connected cars are a data security nightmare, as companies indiscriminately trawl as much data as possible from drivers, unaware they are operating what is effectively a smartphone on wheels. Everything from the number of passengers in the car to the music you listen to is being harvested and potentially shared with insurance companies, advertisers, law enforcement, and even malicious actors. We need clarity, regulation, and transparency about the uses of vehicle data.
• Narrative B, as provided by Techopedia. All new technology comes with risks, but the benefits of connected vehicles far outweigh the risks, as they will enhance the driving experience and make us all safer. Automakers are making cutting-edge improvements to protect the digital security and privacy of their new vehicles, with tools such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition at their disposal. They are safer on the road as well, with advanced surveillance and sensor systems. We shouldn't let one innocent mistake cloud our perception of the future of driving.