Society of Automotive Analysts Announces Black Box Telematics Debate: 'Who Owns the Data?'

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 11, 2003 -- Information superhighway or not, the automotive industry is on a clear collision course with civil liberties.

Already, onboard data about how a vehicle is driven can be and are being downloaded without the knowledge or consent of the driver. That information is being studied by fleet owners, inspected by law enforcement, and even being subpoenaed into courts of law.

Ironically, these data are being made available courtesy of the vehicle's manufacturer and paid for by an unknowing consumer.

Industry and legal experts will discuss this "black box" technology and the issues of privacy and intellectual property in "The Censure of Sensors - A Telematics Debate" on Wednesday, November 19, 2003, at the Westin Hotel in Southfield, Michigan.

The event, one in a series of networking breakfast sessions hosted by the Society of Automotive Analysts, will begin at 7 a.m. with breakfast, continue at 8 a.m. with the panel program, and conclude at 9:30 a.m.

In cooperation with SAA, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International will issue a public statement relating to the standardization of data transfer, the first step in expanding the application of telematics in automobiles.

Csaba Csere, editor of Car and Driver magazine, in Ann Arbor, will moderate. Panelists confirmed to date are:

Philip Haseltine, president of the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety; Arlington, VA

Michael Khoury, head of the technology practice at the law firm of Raymond & Prokop P.C.; Southfield

Kathleen Konicki, Director of Safety for Nationwide Insurance; Columbus, OH

Admission to the breakfast and program is $50. The fee for SAA and SAE members, and members of the media is $35. Due to limited seating, advance registration is strongly urged.

For additional information, contact SAA headquarters at 800-704-0051; fax 734-677-2407; e-mail to info@cybersaa.org . Or visit the SAA website at www.cybersaa.org which includes secure on-line registration, and additional panel details.

The Society of Automotive Analysts is dedicated to providing outstanding educational programs and superior networking opportunities to its members by offering conferences, programs, and other forums in which to discuss, debate, and learn about a broad variety of subjects and timely industry issues. The society is comprised of over five hundred individual members.