If You’ve Got a New Car, It’s a Data Privacy Nightmare

[NJS5]

Extract from an article published by Gizmodo earlier this month:-

Bad news: your car is a spy. Every major car brand's new internet-connected models flunked privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla.

If your vehicle was made in the last few years, you’re probably driving around in a data-harvesting machine that may collect personal information as sensitive as your race, weight, and sexual activity. Volkswagen’s cars reportedly know if you’re fastening your seatbelt and how hard you hit the brakes.

Mozilla found brands including BMW, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, and Subaru collect data about drivers including race, facial expressions, weight, health information, and where you drive. Some of the cars tested collected data you wouldn’t expect your car to know about, including details about sexual activity, race, and immigration status, according to Mozilla.

The worst offender was Nissan, Mozilla said. The carmaker’s privacy policy suggests the manufacturer collects information including sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic data, though there’s no details about how exactly that data is gathered. Nissan reserves the right to share and sell “preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes” to data brokers, law enforcement, and other third parties.

Other brands didn’t fare much better. Volkswagen, for example, collects your driving behaviors such as your seatbelt and braking habits and pairs that with details such as age and gender for targeted advertising. Kia’s privacy policy reserves the right to monitor your “sex life,” and Mercedes-Benz ships cars with TikTok pre-installed!

Source:- https://gizmodo.com/mozilla-new-cars-data-privacy-report-1850805416

 

[Larkone]

It would also be interesting to see what the ICO had to say about this though the article looks like it is US based and they have different data protection laws (few or none) to the EU and UK (we harmonise with the EU to make business easier). The car companies will have different privacy policies based on the country or region they are selling into.

You are entitled to ask them for a full copy of your data under UK and EU law - if everyone starts to do that they may quickly find that they will adjust their policies.

 

[rifiki]

I will stick to my 1960 190B and 2005 CLK, also switch off mobile phone.

 

[as400]

...and all those cars made in China......they must be quivering with fear in the Doughnut.

 

[SL63 Mark]

It’s a conspiracy theorists nightmare.

What happens if “they” switch them all off, or point them at the Pacific ?

 

[ajlsl600]

Extract from an article published by Gizmodo earlier this month:-



Source:- https://gizmodo.com/mozilla-new-cars-data-privacy-report-1850805416

Buy nuthin vehicle wise with any Internet conection and know how to wipe the brain of any such data before sending it for service

 

[rorywquin]

Extract from an article published by Gizmodo earlier this month:-



Source:- https://gizmodo.com/mozilla-new-cars-data-privacy-report-1850805416

IIRC, ~28 years ago my 5 series BMW collected driving data in a module that could be accessed by dealers & cops . Nothing new just more being done.

 

[Larkone]

Your phone is just as big a risk on the data it collects about you and your location

 

[SL63 Mark]

Depends if you have anything to hide. My phone would tell you I went to work, and came home again. Repeatedly.

 

[Larkone]

Depends if you have anything to hide. My phone would tell you I went to work, and came home again. Repeatedly.

No apps installed then?

 

[SL63 Mark]

No apps installed then?

I have a butterfly identification app, and "Pocket Birds" (an ornithology app before anyone jumps to conclusions)

I also have the village WhatsApp but rarely post because the contributions are all about dog sh*t and lost sheep. .

 

[Larkone]

I have a butterfly identification app, and "Pocket Birds" (an ornithology app before anyone jumps to conclusions)

I also have the village WhatsApp but rarely post because the contributions are all about dog sh*t and lost sheep. .

Ok so just basics of who you are from your profile, where you are, where you have been, how long it took you to get there, any text or other conversations and a record of every phone call you have made and received for starters.

 

[harrye500]

We'll be OK though, cos our MBs use 3G which is virtually no more.. LOL and all that!