Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project developers must understand the implications of collecting personally identifiable information (PII), such as vehicle location, movement, and occupant identity, as these data can attract interest from law enforcement or civil litigation parties. The course explores the legal and political principles essential to ITS design, emphasizing the risks associated with external use of collected data. Public backlash or civil-liberties litigation could threaten project viability if these issues are not addressed. Real-world examples include automated traffic law enforcement (e.g., red-light cameras), vehicle miles traveled taxes, electronic tolling systems, and electronic enforcement of graduated driver’s licenses. The historical perspective of seat-belt ignition interlocks highlights civil-liberties concerns predating ITS.

The course underscores the importance of understanding privacy as both a political concept and a legal protection, which enables ITS developers to design systems that gain public acceptance and avoid privacy-related controversies.

Topics:This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• Principles and unresolved issues in current privacy law
• The distinction between anonymous and personally identifiable information
• The need to obtain consent when identifying information is collected
• Different access to information by public versus private actors
• Case studies:
  • Seat belt ignition interlock occupant crash protection
  • Automated law enforcement
  • Electronic tolling
  • Graduated driver’s license enforcement

Intended Audience:Transportation, civil, construction, and ITS developers and engineers.

Publication Source:This course is based on Report No. CTS 11-21, “ITS and Locational Privacy: Suggestions for Peaceful Coexistence,” written by Frank Douma and Sarah Aue, sponsored by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, October 2011.