Study Finds 19 of 21 New Cars Send Data to Third Parties, and Their Apps Share Even More

Summary

Northeastern University researchers tested 21 late-model cars and 30 automaker apps. Nineteen of the cars sent data over Wi-Fi to at least one outside company, and 28 of the 30 apps contacted advertising or analytics firms. Seven apps passed along identifiers such as VINs, email addresses, and precise location, including General Motors’ myChevrolet, myCadillac, myBuick, and myGMC apps.

Why it matters

You can’t reset a VIN like a phone’s advertising ID, so it can permanently link your driving and app activity. Families with a connected car and a companion app should review the app’s privacy settings.

HTD Says

Your car is a smartphone with wheels, and this study shows it tells many advertising companies where you have been. While I have pretty much given up on preventing companies from tracking me on the web and social, having your car tracked for data mining purposes is a completely different matter. There isn’t an easy way to “opt out,” and no one really knows where all this data goes.

This isn’t breaking news; this tracking surfaced a few years ago. Consumers haven’t given permission, and there were lots of hand-slaps (and lawsuits) as a result. More technology-forward companies like Tesla and Rivian say that if you don’t “opt in” to data sharing, functionality “might be reduced.” So you buy a tech-advanced car but want to maintain your privacy, and then your high-tech car gets dumbed down? Hmmm.

I expect more news on this. You have options for home tech and mobile tech (somewhat in both), but you don’t have any for car tech? Yeah, that will change.

Source:

Engadget