Data collected by cars and sold to third parties (theverge.com)

Article summary

Many cars collect and sell data about their drivers to third parties, often without the drivers' knowledge or consent. General Motors was recently penalized by the Federal Trade Commission for selling customer data to consumer reporting agencies and third-party data brokers. The issue of data privacy in cars is gaining attention, with some lawmakers introducing bills to give vehicle owners more control over their data. However, privacy advocates argue that these bills do not go far enough in preventing excessive data collection.

Main themes

• data privacy
• car surveillance
• EU laws
• right-to-repair
• technical solutions
• corporate profit
• consumer security

What commenters say

• The lack of meaningful data protection laws allows companies to collect and sell personal data without consequences.
• Some argue that the EU's data protection laws are being eroded, with new laws mandating surveillance and data collection in cars.
• Others claim that these laws are being misinterpreted and that there is no evidence to support the idea that the EU is mandating permanent, non-disableable cameras in cars.
• The use of older cars that do not collect and transmit data is seen as a way to avoid surveillance and maintain privacy.
• Technical solutions, such as removing the hardware responsible for data collection or using a Faraday cage, are being explored as ways to prevent data collection.
• The right-to-repair movement is seen as intersecting with the issue of data privacy in cars, with some arguing that owners should have the right to repair and modify their vehicles without being restricted by manufacturers.
• Some argue that the proliferation of HOAs and data collection in cars are related issues, driven by the desire for profit and control.
• Others see the issue of data privacy in cars as a symptom of a broader problem, with companies prioritizing profit over consumer privacy and security.