Introducing Ford’s Privacy Promise: Our Commitment to Protecting Customer Data

This morning, we announced Ford’s Privacy Promise and debuted our Trust Center website on ford.com. Ford customers tell us that their privacy is one of their most important vehicle ownership considerations, and Ford is launching the Privacy Promise to make an explicit commitment to customers that their vehicle data is safe with us.  

The mainstreaming of AI, other automakers’ customer data sales practices, and even some of our own patent applications can make customers feel unsure about automakers’ intent with vehicle data. It’s our job to be transparent, clear, and above all, responsible in our handling of customer data. 

All of us have a responsibility to live up to the Privacy Promise every day, and it’s centrally important that Ford considers customer privacy in all aspects of in-vehicle and marketing design. Here’s the commitment we’re making to customers today.  

The Privacy Promise Full Text: 

We know that trust is earned. Protecting your personal information is one way we intend to earn it every day. Learn about our privacy practices by reading our Privacy Notices. 

Your Privacy is Our Priority. We design and build our products with privacy in mind – from collection of data to its use and storage, and even disposal. This can include privacy enhancing technologies like anonymizing or aggregating data to further protect your privacy.

Straight Talk About Your Data. We strive to provide clear and easy-to-understand information about how we use your personal information. This empowers you to navigate your privacy choices with confidence. Once you make those choices, we respect your decision. 

You Drive Your Privacy Choices. We understand the trust you place in us every time you drive our vehicles and are dedicated to protecting your privacy. We believe using vehicle data to raise the bar on safety and quality is the right thing to do. We offer vehicle privacy settings that allow you to control what data you want to share, subject to the features and services you wish to enjoy. We also never sell data about how you drive your vehicle to data brokers.

Led by our Chief Privacy Officer, Kristin Jones, Ford’s privacy team can provide you and your colleagues guidance on any issues you may encounter when a product or service involves personal information. The Trust Center is debuting in the US and will expand to other geographies in the coming weeks and months.  

Two Key Resources To Be Familiar With:  

1. Internal Resource: The Privacy Knowledge Center on Sharepoint. This resource can connect you with experts, help you to report incidents, and details our complete list of privacy policies and resources.  
2. External resource: The Trust Center. This public-facing site, live today, is a great resource to share with customer, dealers, and other Ford stakeholders who have questions about Ford’s privacy values. 
    

Thanks to the whole team who worked to define and launch these principles, and thanks to each of you for living them every day.