Privacy4Cars, the first privacy-tech company focused on solving the privacy and security issues posed by vehicle data to protect consumers and automotive businesses, announced the US Patent Office approved three new patents.
Two are novel areas of expansion for Privacy4Cars:
- “Artificial Intelligence Based System and Method for Generating Dynamically Variable Multi-Dimensional Privacy Rating for Vehicles” is the first patent covering how to build privacy rating systems in automotive, a space Privacy4Cars pioneered with Vehicle Privacy Report, which launched in May 2023 as a free tool for consumers and a merchandising solution for dealerships. It includes the world’s first privacy labeling system covering circa 600 million vehicles across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the EU.
- “Methods and Systems to Reduce Privacy Invasion and Methods and Systems to Thwart Same” is a novel approach to defeating AI and Computer Vision systems that are increasingly used to invade privacy of consumers. Originally developed to dramatically decrease the accuracy of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) without illegally altering plates, it has much broader applicability to reduce the reliability of systems that collect biometrics, use facial recognition and other image-based IDs.
The third patent is an expansion of the company’s signature method to delete personal information stored in vehicles and to create records of deletion. Hundreds of companies already rely on Privacy4Cars’ AutoCleared™ data deletion service, and its distinctive IP now includes six patents.
The news of the expanded patent portfolio comes on the heels of Privacy4Cars’ recent successful financing round. In December 2023, Privacy4Cars secured a multi-million dollar debt facility with SaaS Capital, the leading provider of growth debt to software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, to provide additional non-dilutive growth capital.
It comes at a pivotal time, as there has been an increased focus and action on the part of regulators to improve privacy in vehicles across the globe. This includes the first two laws to very specifically mandate a process to delete the personal information of consumers stored in vehicles exchanging hands.
“As vehicle technology evolves and new legislation emerges to protect consumers’ privacy, the need to innovate and advocate for better privacy tools in the automotive space has never been greater,” said Andrea Amico, CEO and founder, Privacy4Cars. “The issuance of these three new patents is a testament to our unwavering commitment to driving privacy. Through these new patents, we will be able to offer new privacy tools for consumers and auto businesses alike.”
Privacy4Cars’ newly awarded patents will fuel the expansion of its product offering, adding to its already robust suite of privacy tools. Its patented AutoCleared has been used in nearly 1.5 million vehicles to efficiently manage, execute and log the deletion of personal information from cars (phone numbers, call logs, location history, garage door codes and more). Its Vehicle Privacy Report tool is a first-of-its-kind solution for privacy disclosures and has been visited over 250,000 times through pure word of mouth. In March 2024, Vehicle Privacy Report smart labels had over 10 million impressions on participating dealership websites. Both services are free to consumers and offered as a solution for businesses seeking to grow trust, engagement and compliance standards through privacy.
Since its launch in 2018, Privacy4Cars has emerged as the industry standard across auto finance companies, fleets and fleet management companies and franchised and independent dealerships. Many of today’s top organizations in the automotive space, including several OEM’s captives and large dealer groups, have adopted the data deletion service powered by the Privacy4Cars platform, and a growing number of industry associations are speaking out about the need to clear personal information from cars and tapping Privacy4Cars as a resource to educate members.