In an era of increasing connectivity and technological advancements, smart cars have become the norm on our roads. However, beneath the sleek exteriors and advanced features lies a concerning reality: your vehicle might be spying on you and recording every move, inclusing your private life. A recent study conducted by the Mozilla Foundation has unveiled the unsettling truth about the extent to which car manufacturers collect and share your personal data.
The study scrutinized 25 different car brands and delivered a stark verdict—none of them passed consumer privacy tests. Shockingly, a staggering 84percent of car companies were found to review, share, or even sell data collected from car owners. The collected personal data goes far beyond what is necessary for the vehicle's operation or the car brand's relationship with its drivers.
Mozilla's research revealed that six car companies go to alarming lengths, collecting intimate information such as a driver's medical and genetic details, driving habits, destinations, and even their musical preferences. Nissan goes so far as to include "sexual activity" in the data it collects, while Kia openly acknowledges its capacity to gather information about your "sex life" in their privacy policy.
Kia's privacy policy states that it may process "special categories" of data, including sensitive aspects such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and political beliefs. The extent of data collection extends beyond the car's built-in systems, encompassing connected services and third-party sources like online radio services and navigation apps.
This vast amount of data isn't just sitting idle; it's being used to create profiles and make inferences about you, from your intelligence to your interests. As the automotive industry continues to embrace connectivity and autonomous driving, predictions suggest a surge in sales for services like music and video streaming, as well as driver assistance and self-driving subscriptions. These services can be highly profitable for carmakers if they
collect more customer data.
Even tech giant Tesla, despite its prominence in the electric car market, failed Mozilla's criteria in security, data control, and AI. Tesla has previously faced criticism over its privacy practices, including incidents where employees shared videos and images recorded by customer car cameras.
Among the car brands reviewed, 84percent admitted they could share personal data with service providers or data brokers, and 76percent confessed they could potentially sell this data. Only Renault and Dacia, both under the same parent company, explicitly stated that drivers had the right to delete their personal data. These brands, headquartered in Europe, benefit from the protection of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy law.
As the automotive industry continues to evolve, questions about data security and personal privacy loom large. It remains to be seen whether car manufacturers will take the necessary steps to safeguard your personal information as the smart car revolution unfolds. In the meantime, it's essential to stay informed and vigilant about the dark side of smart cars.
