Analysis of the Security Risks and Compliance Points of Cross-Border Flow of Automotive Driving Data

Recently, the Ministry of State Security issued a security alert, pointing out that some foreign mapping companies are using virtual currency rewards to induce domestic personnel to illegally collect sensitive geographic information. This behavior not only threatens data security but may also endanger national security. Against this background, this article takes the Hivemapper project as an example to analyze the data security risks in its operational process and proposes suggestions for the compliance construction of related enterprises.

Hivemapper is a blockchain-based map network. Users collect street view images by installing dedicated dash cams, and after uploading the data, they can earn HONEY token rewards. The project builds a global map through crowdsourcing, with advantages such as low cost, fast updates, and high quality.

However, projects like Hivemapper may involve the collection and cross-border transmission of various types of data during their operation, including personal information, vehicle data, geographic information, etc. The cross-border flow of this data may bring multiple risks:

From a personal perspective, it may leak drivers' private information; from a corporate perspective, it may involve trade secrets; from a national perspective, the leakage of sensitive geographical information may threaten national security. At the same time, there are security risks in various aspects of cross-border data flow, such as unauthorized collection, leakage during transmission, and insufficient protection by the receiving party.

To address the safety issues of automotive data going abroad, enterprises can take the following measures:

1. Establish a data classification and grading system to clarify the protection requirements and export conditions for different types of data.

2. Establish a data outbound security assessment mechanism and form a dedicated team to be responsible for the assessment work.

3. Establish an outbound risk self-assessment system and dynamically monitor data outbound risks.

4. Strengthen communication with overseas recipients and require them to provide information on data protection capabilities and legal environment.

5. Keep a close eye on regulatory trends and adjust compliance strategies in a timely manner.

In summary, automotive companies should attach great importance to data export security, balancing business development with compliance requirements while adhering to laws and regulations, and establishing a comprehensive data security management system.