It is frightening how privacy and personal data are being invaded and eroded. Now your car, if it is a newer model, can spy on you: see where you have gone, record your driving habits such as speeding, use of brakes, use of seat belts. It is much more invasive than you think when it can determine things like your gender, and your weight. The car manufacturers can sell ff this information or just use it to their advantage or the benefit of a third party like an insurance company. Drive your car with this in mind, it hears you and may even see you if you have a vehicular camera installed.
- Car data privacy issues
Mozilla’s “Privacy Not Included” project found that every major car brand fails to adhere to the most basic privacy and security standards in new internet-connected models. All 25 of the brands Mozilla examined flunked the organization’s test. - Types of data collected
Mozilla found that car brands 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, such as details about sexual activity, race, and immigration status. - Data sharing and selling practices
Mozilla said that many car brands share and sell data to data brokers, law enforcement, and other third parties. Nissan, for example, reserves the right to share and sell “preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes” to third parties. - Privacy washing and consent problems
Mozilla also found that many car brands engage in “privacy washing,” or presenting consumers with information that suggests they don’t have to worry about privacy issues when the exact opposite is true. Many car brands also say it’s the driver’s responsibility to let passengers know about their car’s privacy policies.
