cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11726995

Archived version

Electric vehicle maker BYD has removed any reference to “China” and “surveillance” from its Australian privacy policy just days after receiving questions from Four Corners.

The original policy gave the company almost unlimited powers to collect data on its Australian vehicle owners and broad discretion over how it could disclose it.

It said the data could be gathered “in connection with suspected illegal or improper activities” and that this could be done through “surveillance activities”.

“This gives some highly concerning indications about the potential data practices of the company,” said UNSW’s Katharine Kemp, an expert in privacy law and how it relates to connected vehicles.

The policy named China as one of 16 countries where Australians’ data could be sent.

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While all references to China have been removed, nothing stops it from transferring data overseas, including to China.

“Should we need to transfer your personal data to other countries … we will comply with applicable data protection laws regarding cross-border data transfers,” the new policy says.

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BYD said Chinese authorities had no access to the data of Australians.

“We haven’t and would not transfer any data of Australians to the Chinese authorities,” it said.

This is despite China’s national security laws obligating companies to co-operate with authorities if requested.

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