Ethical and Social Aspects of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: A Focus on Stakeholders’ Responsibility and Customers’ Willingness to Share Data

Abstract

Today’s economies are facing massive changes, induced by development in emerging markets, the fast technological progress, sustainability policies, and changing customer preferences. The automotive industry undergoes a variety of challenges that could transform the industry in a way it has never changed before. One main driver of this transformation is connectivity, enabling cars to communicate with devices to offer new features to the customers. Many of which depend on personal data of passengers. This creates threats and opportunities at the same time. Within the ecosystem of the connected and autonomous vehicle, stakeholders’ responsibilities need to be discussed. As data privacy is a very sensitive topic in today’s world, it is pivotal to analyze customers’ willingness to share data and to discuss certain frameworks that ensure that customers are protected and that ethical standards are being implemented. Although many people show interest in these features, a lot of concerns regarding privacy are threatening people. Gaining trust among society and ensuring those features will be of benefit for humans, it is necessary that thoughts on security, privacy, and ethics are made before those features are brought to market.