Telematics refers to the technology used in a vehicle’s infotainment system, which can collect data about the vehicle and its occupants. This technology is becoming increasingly accessible to law enforcement as evidence in legal cases. In other words, telematics allows authorities to access information about a vehicle and its drivers through the infotainment system. According to an article by Forbes, cops can extract data from 10,000 different car model infotainment systems.
The infotainment system in modern vehicles holds valuable information about our lives and our everyday habits. We often use Bluetooth to connect audio, which accesses our contacts, which pings cell towers to show locations, etc. The telematics of the infotainment system can reveal a vast amount of information about the vehicle’s use and about the devices connected to it. Anything that you’ve done through your infotainment system is available from the telematics. If you’ve ever synced your phone to your infotainment system, the system now holds that data.
Telematics can be used as evidence after an accident, for an insurance claim, or even for non-law enforcement investigations. We’re seeing more frequently private sectors subpoenaing this information for their reference. In infidelity investigations, a spouse may request that the telematics be used to see if there has been anyone in the passenger’s seat, as the telematics will show if the airbag sensor sensed a passenger.
While vehicle technology can make navigation a breeze, be aware that the technology is now more advanced than some cell phones, and also accesses your personal cell phone data if you choose to share it. As technology continues to advance, it’s likely that telematics will continue to play a major role in uncovering digital evidence.
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