Car Privacy Insights: What Your Car Knows About You

Cars are smarter than ever before. Cars have had computers since 1968, but today, there are thousands of chips, sensors, and cameras in every car that collect and interpret data. Is your car actually compromising your privacy? Modern cars are equipped with numerous microprocessors and sensors that collect and interpret vast amounts of data, contributing to advanced features, safety enhancements, and a more intelligent overall driving experience. Connected cars collect even more data because they are providing you with Wi-Fi access while you’re on the road. This reflects the ongoing trend of automotive innovation and the integration of sophisticated technologies into vehicles. However, it also brings up a lot of questions for people who are interested in protecting their data and preserving their privacy. These are great questions! The answers are not always straightforward, but they’re worth digging into. In a data-driven world, it’s important to consider all of the ways that we are constantly sharing data about ourselves with others and impacting our privacy – including via our cars! First, let’s take a look at the general categories of data cars collect in the first place. Just because a car collects information does not mean that all of the information they collect is problematic. However, it’s easy to see some potential vulnerabilities when you review just how much information our cars have access to. Not all car manufacturers are the same. Some collect far more data than others, and some are more transparent about what they collect than others. The Mozilla Foundation , a nonprofit organization that creates open-source browsers and promotes free access to the Internet, conducted in-depth research into what data each major manufacturer does and does not collect. Mozilla’s annual Privacy Not Included tool analyzes 25 car companies, and the results are troubling. In 2023, all 25 examined brands were given failing grades for consumer privacy protection. They found that it was difficult for manufacturers to answer questions about the data they collect, but without consumer protections, many of them can do whatever they want with our information. In fact, Mozilla expresses concern about some troubling statistics : The worst offenders are Nissan, Tesla, and Hyundai, but all other manufacturers were considered problematic, including: Renault, Dacia, BMW, Subaru, Fiat, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Acura, Kia, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. Again, there was not a single car manufacturer that was found to be ethically responsible for their customers’ data. Mozilla produced a list of over 150 pieces of information that our cars can collect about us and the world around us. Some of these things may be obvious, but others are pretty surprising! Here are 40 of the items on their list: How is it possible that our cars can collect all of this information? How would our car know whether or not we have served in the military or what our political and religious beliefs are? What could provide them with access to all of this information? Well, there are a few ways that cars access our data and impact our privacy. First, cars are designed to collect information about your habits and behaviors within the vehicle. Modern cars are filled with microphones, sensors, cameras, and computer chips that record everything we do. Second, we connect our phones to our cars, and we use the apps and services on our digital dashboards. Whenever we use a satellite radio or GPS, we’re sharing information with our cars. Similarly, when we download the car’s app, your phone shares information with the manufacturer. Using Wi-Fi in a connected car can create data vulnerabilities, too. Third, and finally, car manufacturers can gather information about their customers the same way that any company collects information about customers. They can gather information from dealerships, permissions you provide when on their website, social media interactions, and more. Our vehicles have become sophisticated data collection devices, gathering immense amounts of information about our habits, behaviors, preferences, and private lives. While some of this data collection leads to enhanced safety and convenience features, the lack of transparency and control is extremely troubling for privacy. Consumers deserve to understand exactly what information their cars are gathering about them and how it is being used. Consumers need to demand common-sense limitations on the data car manufacturers can collect without consent. At the very minimum, drivers should have access to their data and the ability to delete it when they sell or dispose of a vehicle. The onus is on lawmakers and the automotive industry itself to develop and implement much stronger privacy protections around connected vehicles. Unfortunately, until meaningful action is taken, drivers should educate themselves on the data practices of any vehicle they purchase and limit sharing as much as possible. The future of driving cannot come at the expense of personal privacy.