Big data has understandably become a hot commodity in recent years. Large corporations use consumer data to make big decisions in their fields, and it’s no different in the automotive space. The question is, where are they even getting this data? With data privacy becoming more important in the modern day, it’s time we look at a data collector we might not even realize is a risk to our privacy—the humble daily driver.
Your vehicle’s onboard computer systems have a ton of different functions that work together to create an enjoyable driving experience. However, these systems can also collect the following bits of information without you realizing it:
Your vehicle’s built-in GPS system can be a blessing and a curse. Your vehicle can track your location and record how often you go to certain areas. This includes your route history, meaning it knows your travel habits.
If your vehicle has any voice recognition systems, it can record your voice as you say commands or speak for car-related interactions. Additionally, if you connect your phone to your vehicle’s infotainment system, your vehicle might have access to personal photos. It can also capture images using onboard cameras for related systems like any advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
Your vehicle can also collect financial and personal data. Information like your race, genetic information, and immigration status can be revealed when you purchase a vehicle. Your income and spending habits are also possibly on the table. If you connect your calendar and to-do list to your vehicle, you can expect those to be at risk as well. There’s also your employment information such as your commuting habits and exact workplace to think about.
Overall, so much of what you do is connected to your vehicle, and its systems can easily take what it knows and send it off to the manufacturer.
Knowing that automakers are sharing consumers’ driving behavior is only the first step to keeping your car data safe. Unsurprisingly, most Americans don’t want their car data in anyone’s hands. A study by insurance saving app Jerry discovered that most drivers weren’t comfortable with the idea that automakers were collecting their data at all. Unfortunately, most car owners are already unknowingly sharing their data. Here are some tips for how to avoid getting roped into sharing your car data with manufacturers:
When you first purchase your vehicle at the dealership, you’ll be presented with a contract. It might take a while, but it’s worth reading all the fine print in the contract if you don’t want to be blindsided by privacy permissions. Keep an extra-close eye on any third-party applications or services that mention selling or sharing your data. See whether the data is only going to the company, or if they’re technically allowed to share your data with other third parties.
Watch for any additional services or add-ons that the dealership offers. Some might be subscriptions you didn’t even want. Car salespeople get commissions for signing customers up to certain services and add-ons, which can lead to you opting into data-sharing systems you weren’t able to review. Skip the walk-throughs for any of your car’s new technology, and research at home instead. That way, you can review any important information away from the hyped-up, buy-now air at a dealership. Check the vehicle’s settings and its connected mobile apps and opt out of any data-sharing features you don’t want.
While we’re on the topic, your vehicle’s mobile or driving app is another point for personal information to leak through. Unfortunately, much of the time, it’s unavoidable if you want the full range of features. If you’re set on not giving your car’s manufacturer any of your data, it might mean skipping app-dependent features. Sharing your car data on its app is risky.
In 2023, Mozilla, a nonprofit foundation, reviewed 25 different car brands to see how much information they were collecting through their cars and how safe that information was in their hands. All 25 brands failed Mozilla’s tests, and all of them earned Mozilla’s “Privacy Not Included” warning label. At the time, cars were labeled as the worst product category for privacy, according to Mozilla’s tests.
All the tested car brands collected far more personal data than was necessary to run the vehicle. To make matters worse, most of these brands have the legal ability to sell or share that personal data to third parties. Most drivers aren’t given control over their personal data, and most auto brands failed to publish detailed security information regarding how they safeguard vehicle owners’ data. Throughout their review, Mozilla couldn’t find whether any of the cars even encrypted the personal data they were recording.
If automakers share or sell personal data with other companies, it can easily cause serious repercussions for you and other consumers. For instance, if automakers are sharing data with insurance companies, some drivers might find their insurance costs spike by significant percentages. As the information continues to circulate, data breaches become a bigger risk, and identity theft and targeted scams might follow as a result.
Worried your car data’s already leaked online? You can try looking for your data so that you can prepare yourself and find where the leaked data’s coming from. You can request a consumer disclosure report online from sites like LexisNexis and Verisk. Other sites like Privacy4Cars can help by providing forms for you to fill in to opt out of sharing your data with third parties and targeted advertising.
Ultimately, it’s best to check all your vehicle’s paperwork and functions yourself, especially now that you know how important car data privacy is.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.