A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has issued a pointed critique of major automakers for their resistance to right-to-repair legislation and their monetization of consumer data, as reported by Ars Technica. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have addressed letters to prominent manufacturers including Ford, General Motors, and Tesla, accusing them of placing profit motives above consumer rights.
“We need to put the brakes on automakers exploiting your data and undermining your right to repair,” Senator Merkley stated. The correspondence highlights a glaring inconsistency in automakers’ assertions that granting independent repair shops access to vehicle data presents cybersecurity risks, even as they generate revenue by selling that same data to third parties, including insurance firms.
### The Dominance of Independent Repair Shops
The Senators emphasized that independent repair facilities manage approximately 70% of vehicle repairs, a choice often preferred by consumers due to their cost-effectiveness and reliability. By contrast, dealership service networks, closely aligned with the manufacturers, face ongoing criticism for their exorbitant fees.
While automakers contend that right-to-repair laws—which would allow third parties access to diagnostic and repair data—threaten vehicle security, this debate has ignited particularly fierce reactions in Massachusetts, where a voter-approved law requiring an open telematics data platform has faced pushback. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged automakers not to comply with this law citing cybersecurity risks.
The Senators rebuffed these claims, drawing on expert testimony that indicates cybersecurity threats are more closely linked to poorly protected software than to the sharing of diagnostic instruments. They referenced a ruling from a German court that invalidated similar arguments from Mercedes-Benz, branding them as unfounded excuses to deny access to repair data.
### The Privacy Hypocrisy
Automakers’ opposition to right-to-repair initiatives is further complicated by their practices surrounding consumer data. Numerous firms have been found to aggregate and sell data from connected vehicles without the consent of drivers. The Senators’ correspondence accuses these manufacturers of leveraging privacy concerns to retain control over vehicle repairs, while simultaneously capitalizing on sensitive information when it suits their financial interests.
“It is apparent that the hesitation displayed by automotive companies regarding compliance with right-to-repair laws stems not from genuine concern for consumer security or privacy, but rather from a hypocritical drive for profit,” the Senators asserted. “This type of anti-consumer, anti-repair behavior must be curtailed across all sectors. Americans possess an inherent right to repair their own technology, agricultural gear, and vehicles.”
### Looking Ahead
The Senators have given the automakers a deadline of January 6 to respond to a comprehensive questionnaire detailing their data collection and sharing practices, revenue from repairs, and lobbying efforts against right-to-repair legislation. The letter also requests disclosure of any cybersecurity incidents that have occurred in the last five years.
As of now, no manufacturer has publicly addressed the letter. Nonetheless, with increasing pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups, the contentious battle over right-to-repair laws shows no signs of abating in the near future.
Source:www.autoblog.com
