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Controversy swirled in Australia earlier this week when a rental car dealership, DriveMyCar Rentals, announced its plans to put GPS tracking devices in each of its rental vehicles. The rental agency decided to use GPS tracking to better protect the vehicles it hires out. By having a GPS in each rental car, the company will be able to track their vehicles in real time and supervise the customer’s use of the vehicle. DriveMyCar Rentals hopes the GPS devices will prevent customers from misusing the rental vehicles and prevent costly damage to their cars. For example, the GPS tracking device would allow the owners to know if the customer was doing something that could potentially damage the car, such as driving on a dirt road. The rental agency is planning to install GPS devices in only a third of its vehicles right now.

While DriveMyCar Rentals is implementing this plan to protect their merchandise, some have protested that these tracking devices will violate privacy laws. Civil Liberties Australia, for instance, is not in favor of the rental agency’s plan. In response to protests, the car hire agency assured customers that they will not be able to trace a vehicle’s history. The company claims that information from the tracking devices they will install can only be viewed in real time. The rental agency has also guaranteed customer notification of the GPS tracking devices, saying that they will inform customers both in the rental terms and with a sticker on the vehicle.

Controversy involving GPS and personal privacy is not new. Since GPS has grown more popular and become more widely used in the public spectrum, many have brought up objections over the unethical use of these satellite tracking devices. For instance, on the other side of the world, in New York City, a recent news item was about the controversy over GPS devices being installed in taxis. Taxi drivers argued that the satellite tracking would invade their privacy, but owners of the cab agency countered that the tracking devices were necessary to prevent drivers from cheating their customers. Other recent debates about the ethical use of GPS tracking include criminal suspect tracking, where law enforcement officers use GPS tracking devices to gather evidence against suspects in a case. However, in each situation, GPS tracking is providing solutions for businesses, homes, and even law enforcement.

While GPS tracking devices can cause privacy concerns, they are becoming immensely helpful to companies around the world – even  DriveMyCar Rentals.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett