Study Finds Cars Collect Extensive Personal Data, With Tesla Failing Privacy Assessments

Modern cars collect extensive personal data from drivers, passengers, nearby pedestrians, connected devices and apps, according to a Mozilla study.
84% of studied car brands share or sell the collected personal data with third parties like service providers, data brokers, and government.
Tesla failed all of Mozilla's privacy assessments, being the only carmaker labeled "untrustworthy AI" and checking all "poor-privacy" boxes.
Car buyers don't comparison shop based on privacy because other factors like cost and features are more limiting.
California is investigating how car companies use collected data, and Tesla faces a potential $3.3 billion fine over a data leak.

qz.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/1/2023

This California agency wants to know what happens to all that connected car data

Main topic: The California Privacy Protection Agency plans to review the data privacy practices of automakers that produce connected vehicles. Key points: 1. The California Privacy Protection Agency wants to understand how automakers are using and complying with data privacy laws when collecting and using consumer data from connected cars. 2. This review is the first of its kind in the United States and aligns with California's lead in data privacy laws. 3. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the collection of personal information by connected cars, as they gather data on locations, preferences, and daily activities. 4. Connected cars produce large amounts of data that can be shared or sold to data brokers and accessed by law enforcement agencies. 5. Automakers like Google and GM have stated that they prioritize data privacy and have policies in place to protect personal information. Note: The article also mentions the California Consumer Privacy Act and the implications of connected car data for ride-hailing customers and pedestrians.

9/6/2023

If You’ve Got a New Car, It’s a Data Privacy Nightmare

Major car brands, including Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, and Subaru, fail to meet basic privacy and security standards in their internet-connected models, collecting personal data such as race, weight, and sexual activity, according to a study by Mozilla's *Privacy Not Included project.

9/6/2023

‘Modern cars are a privacy nightmare,’ the worst Mozilla’s seen

According to a report by the Mozilla Foundation, cars have the worst user privacy practices among all gadgets, with 92% of automakers providing little control over personal data and 84% sharing user data with outside parties.

9/6/2023

Automakers under fire for selling driver data

Automakers are facing criticism for selling driver data, with all 25 major car brands receiving a failing grade for consumer privacy and 84% of them sharing or selling consumer data, raising concerns about the privacy of personal information such as facial recognition and sexual activity.

9/7/2023

Your car wants to know about your sex life

Car manufacturers, including Nissan and Volkswagen, are collecting extensive amounts of data on drivers and passengers, including tracking sexual activity, according to a report by Mozilla Foundation, raising concerns about privacy and data protection.

Topics

Posted 9/7/2023, 11:46:00 AM

Study Finds Cars Collect Extensive Personal Data, With Tesla Failing Privacy Assessments

Modern cars collect extensive personal data from drivers, passengers, nearby pedestrians, connected devices and apps, according to a Mozilla study.
84% of studied car brands share or sell the collected personal data with third parties like service providers, data brokers, and government.
Tesla failed all of Mozilla's privacy assessments, being the only carmaker labeled "untrustworthy AI" and checking all "poor-privacy" boxes.
Car buyers don't comparison shop based on privacy because other factors like cost and features are more limiting.
California is investigating how car companies use collected data, and Tesla faces a potential $3.3 billion fine over a data leak.

qz.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/1/2023

This California agency wants to know what happens to all that connected car data

9/6/2023

If You’ve Got a New Car, It’s a Data Privacy Nightmare

9/6/2023

‘Modern cars are a privacy nightmare,’ the worst Mozilla’s seen

9/6/2023

Automakers under fire for selling driver data

9/7/2023

Your car wants to know about your sex life