By SparkForge in General — 19 Sep 2023

Car Privacy: The Unseen Threat on Wheels

In the modern era, the exhilaration of driving with the wind in your hair and the open road ahead is overshadowed by a looming concern: the myriad of trackers, cameras, microphones, and sensors that are constantly monitoring and recording your every move. While car manufacturers have proudly touted their vehicles as “computers on wheels” to showcase advanced features, the implications for occupants’ privacy have been largely overlooked. As we become increasingly reliant on connected devices, the automotive industry has discreetly transformed their vehicles into formidable data collection machines. These vehicles, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, possess an unparalleled capability to observe, listen, and gather extensive information about your activities and preferences.

The Mozilla Foundation’s research on 25 car brands paints a grim picture of the current state of car privacy. Every single brand they investigated was flagged with a “Privacy Not Included” warning, indicating severe privacy concerns. This makes cars the most problematic product category ever reviewed by Mozilla in terms of privacy. The research highlights several alarming findings:

Excessive Data Collection: Every car brand reviewed collects more personal data than necessary. This data isn’t just limited to driving habits or vehicle diagnostics. It can range from medical and genetic information to intimate details about one’s personal life, such as their “sex life.” The sheer volume and variety of data that can be collected are staggering.
Data Sharing and Selling: A whopping 84% of the car brands admit to sharing or selling your personal data. This includes sharing with service providers, data brokers, and other unknown entities. Furthermore, 56% of these brands state they can share your data with government or law enforcement based on a mere “request,” not necessarily a legal mandate.
Limited Data Control: A significant majority (92%) of car brands give drivers minimal control over their personal data. Only two brands, Renault and Dacia, allow all drivers the right to have their personal data deleted.
Ambiguous Security Standards: Despite the extensive privacy policies provided by these car brands, none could confirm if they met Mozilla’s Minimum Security Standards. This raises concerns about the safety of the stored personal data and the potential for breaches.
Manipulation of Consent: The concept of “consent” is often manipulated by car companies. Many assume that by merely using their vehicles, drivers have consented to data collection. Some brands, like Subaru, even suggest that passengers have “consented” to data collection simply by being inside the car.

The automotive industry’s approach to privacy is not just concerning; it’s a glaring violation of personal boundaries. As cars evolve into sophisticated tech products, it’s crucial for consumers to be aware of the privacy implications and for manufacturers to prioritize user privacy above all else.

How Vehicles Can Violate User Privacy

Modern vehicles, especially those with connected features, have the capability to collect, store, and transmit vast amounts of data. This data can range from location information to personal preferences, and even behavioral patterns. Here are some ways vehicles can compromise user privacy:

Location Tracking: Through GPS systems, cars can continuously track and store a user’s location, revealing their habits, frequented places, and routines.
Biometric Data: Some advanced vehicles come equipped with biometric sensors that can collect data like heart rate, stress levels, and even facial expressions.
Voice Commands: Voice-activated systems can record conversations, which might be stored or processed externally.
Connectivity Features: Connecting smartphones to cars can lead to the transfer of personal data, contacts, call logs, messages, and more.
Driving Behavior: By monitoring speed, braking patterns, and steering, cars can create a profile of a user’s driving habits.
Entertainment Preferences: Integrated systems can track what music you listen to, which radio stations you prefer, and even your favorite podcasts.

Why the Automotive Industry Collects Data

The automotive industry’s inclination towards data collection isn’t solely for invasive purposes. Here’s why they do it:

Enhanced User Experience: By understanding user preferences, manufacturers can offer personalized experiences, from music recommendations to route suggestions.
Safety Features: Data on driving behavior can be used to develop advanced safety features, like predictive braking.
Maintenance and Repairs: Continuous monitoring can predict when a part is about to fail, leading to proactive maintenance.
Marketing and Advertising: Personal data can be used to target users with specific advertisements or promotional offers.
Selling Data: A significant revenue stream for some manufacturers is selling aggregated data to third parties, like insurance companies or advertisers.

Manufacturers and Their Privacy Practices

BMW

Privacy Violations:
- Location Data: BMW’s connected drive system can track a vehicle’s location in real-time.
- Personal Data: When using their services, personal data like name, address, and payment details are collected.
- Data Sharing: BMW shares user data with third parties, potentially exposing users to targeted advertisements and other privacy risks.

Nissan

Privacy Violations:
- Sensitive Personal Information: Nissan’s policies indicate they can collect data on religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and more, though they claim not to knowingly do so.
- Data Sharing: Nissan shares user data with third parties, which can be used for various purposes, from marketing to analytics.

Subaru

Privacy Violations:
Telemetry Data: Subaru collects detailed telemetry data, which can reveal a user’s driving habits and preferences.
Personal Identifiers: Subaru collects personal identifiers, potentially linking car data directly to individual users.
Data Sharing: Subaru shares personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Chevrolet

Privacy Violations:
- Always-On Internet Connection: Some Chevrolet models have been found to maintain an always-on internet connection, potentially tracking user behavior and location.
- Data Syncing: Connecting smartphones to Chevrolet cars can lead to the transfer of personal data, contacts, and more.
- Data Sharing: Chevrolet collects a significant amount of data, including location, biometrics, and data synced from mobile devices. They also share data with third parties.

Ford

Privacy Violations:
- Vehicle Data Collection: Ford vehicles collect and share a vast amount of data, including location, biometrics, and data from synced devices.
- Data Retention: Ford retains data for an unspecified amount of time, raising concerns about long-term privacy implications.
- Data Sharing: Ford shares data with third parties and government entities.

Tesla

Privacy Violations:
- Outward-Facing Cameras: Tesla vehicles have outward-facing cameras that have raised allegations of potential privacy violations. Videos from these cameras were allegedly shared internally within the company.
- Data Collection: Tesla collects a wide range of data from its vehicles, from location to driving behavior.
- Data Sharing: Despite Tesla’s promise not to sell or rent personal information, concerns have been raised about how the data is used internally and the potential for sharing with third parties.

Tools and Tips to Protect Your Privacy

Stay Informed: Regularly review the privacy policies of your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Limit Data Sharing: Utilize privacy settings to restrict the amount of data shared.
Opt-Out: Use opt-out options provided by manufacturers to prevent data collection or sharing.
Secure Personal Devices: Ensure devices connected to your car have strong passwords and updated software.
Disconnect: Before selling or returning a rental car, clear all personal data.