California Governor Signs Bill Restricting Sharing Data from Cameras Inside Cabin of Vehicles

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that gives consumers greater control over data captured by in-cabin cameras in their vehicles.

The legislation, Senate Bill 296, authored by Senator Bill Dodd (D – Napa) and sponsored by the Consumer Federation of California, received near-unanimous support in the state Legislature.

The use of in-vehicle cameras to monitor a driver’s gaze, attentiveness, and to record sensitive data allows private companies to build composites of consumers’ habits and can be used for targeted advertisements as well as data collection and monetization, advocates for the bill argue.

Key provisions in the bill include:

• The bill mandates that dealers inform consumers if their potential purchase includes one or more in-vehicle cameras.
• It safeguards consumer privacy by preventing corporations from profiting off personal information through the sale, sharing, or brokerage of consumer data and behavior without consent.
• Outside parties are only allowed to use these images if required for diagnosing, repairing, or enhancing specific car systems.