Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Empowering Consumers. Protecting Privacy.

 

The Honorable Ed Chau
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

April 2, 2015

By email to: edmond.cheung@asm.ca.q0v
Re: AB 886 SUPPORT

Dear Assembly Member Chau:

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC), a San Diego-based nonprofit consumer education and advocacy
organization, supports AB 886.

AB 886 would increase consumer privacy standards for the use of personal information and travel data
that is collected and retained by transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft. This
bill would strictly limit a use of consumer personal information to only what is legitimate and
necessary to providing the transportation service and completing the transaction. The bill would prohibit
the TNC from sharing a consumer?s personal information with third-party affiliates for purposes of
marketing or data retention, and would limit the timeframe for retaining consumers' personal data.

in recent months, we have seen many news stories depicting TNCs and their use of riders? personal
information as invasive. Stories related to tracking customers in real-time, stalking reporters and data
breaches of driver information have highlighted the need for restrictions on use of a consumers'
personal information. This includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, location and trip data, and
credit card information. These examples of misuse and cavalier disregard for customer privacy highlight
the urgent need for a measure like AB 886.

As smartphone applications have grown in use, more personal information, including trip data, is being
collected than ever before. Passenger data should only be gathered if it is strictly necessary for the
operation of the transportation service being provided. Any other collection of data for passengers,
especially those that use the service on a daily basis, can have serious ramification on personal privacy.

Thank you for your time and attention. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our
position on this matter.

Sincerely,

 

Beth Givens, Executive Director
cc: ASM Utilities, sue.katelev@asm.ca.qov
Samantha Corbin, Corbin and Kaiser, samantha@corbinandkaisercom

3033 Fifth Avenue, Suite 223, San Diego, CA 92103
Voice: 619.298.3396 0 Fax: 619.298.5681 0