When I read this report, I knew it would be important for you to know even though you do all the right things. You remove the shady apps from your phone and adjust privacy settings on your kid’s smart toys. Heck, you even stop Alexa from saving recorded conversations. You’re all set, right? Just wait until you get into your car.
Today’s cars are an absolute trainwreck when it comes to privacy. Mozilla recently researched 25 top car brands under its *Privacy Not Included warning-label project. Not a single vehicle passed the test, making cars Mozilla’s worst privacy product category examined to date.
Here’s the scoop on what was uncovered and a couple of steps to make a difference.
🎧 Btw, I interviewed super-smart Jen Caltrider from Mozilla. Watch our convo here on YouTube.
25 car brands tested, 25 car brands failed
Out of the 25 car brands studied, these companies received at least four out of five of Mozilla’s privacy red flags:
- Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai, Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Chevrolet, Kia, Acura, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lincoln, Ford, Lexus, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Tesla received all five of Mozilla’s privacy “dings” thanks to its unreliable artificial intelligence (AI)-powered autopilot. It was reportedly involved in 736 crashes and 17 deaths and is undergoing multiple government investigations. Big yikes.
Perhaps Mozilla’s strangest finding: Nissan collects data on the super-intimate part of your life, and Kia says it can collect information about your “sex life” in its privacy policy. No joke. Maybe, uh, save “it” for when you get home.
Subaru and Nissan spell out that it’s up to you to let anyone in your car know, tracking applies to them too. Imagine that! “Hey, before you hop in to go to lunch with me, FYI, my Nissan really wants to know who you’re texting.
Driving us mad
These vehicles gather personal data based on your interactions with the car, the connected services utilized within the vehicle, the car’s application (which accesses everything on your phone) and details about you from other sources like Sirius XM or Google Maps.
Carmakers can even collect medical and genetic information. Of course, they can then use this information to create more data on you by assuming your abilities, interests and intelligence level. Mozilla also found:
- 84% of the researched brands share your personal data with service providers, data brokers and other businesses you know nothing about.
- 76% of brands admit to selling that personal data.
- 56% say they can share your information with the government or law enforcement upon “request.”
The definition of “request” is murky. We’re talking pretty informal. No court orders needed.
So, what can you do?
There’s no magical place to opt out of all this tracking. Your car’s fancy features, like GPS and the ability to text back with your voice, come at the cost of your privacy — and car manufacturers take advantage.
I wish I could tell you there’s a brand that protects your privacy and isn’t using your info to make a buck. Again, nope.
If you really can’t stand the idea of the data collection:
- Drive a car from 1995 or older. Seriously. In 1996, the government mandated the On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD-II) in all vehicles sold in the U.S. This is what monitors and stores data related to vehicle performance and driver behavior.
- Don’t connect your phone. I know most of us aren’t going to do this — but it is an option, folks. You’re handing over more data than you realize the minute you connect your phone.
🖊️ If you’re so inclined, Mozilla has a petition to stop car companies from collecting massive amounts of user data. Head here to sign your name and join the fight for drivers’ privacy.