Privacy in networked V2X

The Dutch V2X ecosystem: Talking Traffic

The Netherlands has one of the most advanced V2X deployments in the world. The Talking Traffic initiative connects road users, vehicles, and infrastructure in real time, improving traffic flow and safety. This ecosystem involves over 50 public and private organisations, exchanging more than 1.3 billion messages daily.

The Urban Data Access Platform (UDAP) is the core of this ecosystem. It ensures that data is exchanged securely and remains anonymised. Acting as a neutral hub, UDAP enables seamless cooperation between road authorities, service providers, and infrastructure operators while maintaining strong privacy safeguards.

Ensuring privacy in V2X

To process vast amounts of mobility data daily, the Netherlands has embedded privacy by design into its V2X ecosystem. This ensures that:

• Personal data remains secure, anonymous, and used only for its intended purpose.
• GDPR principles are fully integrated into data processing and governance.
• Privacy measures are seamlessly embedded into the system architecture, ensuring compliance without disrupting functionality.
• Transparent data handling ensures that road users and organisations benefit from smarter mobility solutions while maintaining full control over their information.

Best practices: Privacy from design to deployment

The Dutch approach to V2X privacy is structured around ecosystem accountability, GDPR compliance, and continuous monitoring. Key measures include:

• Randomisation of road user IDs: Road user IDs are changed for each V2X event to prevent tracking.
• Data minimisation: Only necessary data is processed, ensuring privacy-sensitive details are not shared.
• ‘Privacy wall’ between public and private data: Road authorities receive only anonymised data, preventing direct tracking of individuals.
• Limited data retention: Data is stored for a maximum of seven days and is accessible only under strict conditions.
• Automated enforcement via UDAP: The platform ensures compliance by verifying anonymisation, data processing agreements, and certification requirements.

The Talking Traffic DPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment) also ensures that all ecosystem partners adhere to strict privacy and security guidelines.

A model for the future of V2X

The Netherlands demonstrates that large-scale V2X deployments can be both innovative and privacy-conscious. By integrating GDPR-compliant safeguards, ensuring transparent data governance, and leveraging secure platforms like UDAP, the country has set a precedent for other regions looking to implement connected mobility solutions.

For road authorities, cities, and mobility providers, the Dutch model offers a roadmap to secure, efficient, and privacy-compliant V2X ecosystems—where data drives progress without compromising personal privacy.

Want to know more? Discover how Monotch enables privacy-first connected mobility. Download our Whitepaper Privacy now to explore the complete approach.