Smart cars are already the norm on our roads, thanks to increased connectivity and technological breakthroughs. However, beneath the slick exteriors and technological capabilities is a worrisome reality: your vehicle may be spying on you and documenting every step, including your private life. A recent study undertaken by the Mozilla Foundation revealed the alarming truth about how much personal data automakers collect and share.
The study analysed 25 different car brands and concluded that none of them passed consumer privacy criteria. Surprisingly, 84 percent of automakers have been found to review, share, or even sell data collected from car owners. The private data gathered significantly exceeds what is required for the vehicle's features or the car brand's relationship with its drivers.
Six automakers go to alarming lengths to gather personal data about their drivers, including their driving habits, destinations, genetic makeup, and even their favourite music. This was discovered by Mozilla's research. Nissan even goes so far as to include "sexual activity" in the data it gathers, and in their privacy policy, Kia freely admits that it may collect data on your "sex life."
According to Kia's privacy statement, it is allowed to handle "special categories" of data, which include private information on racial, religious, sexual, and political affiliations. The scope of data collecting goes beyond the in-car systems and includes linked services as well as external sources such as internet radio services and navigation apps.
This massive amount of data isn't just dangling around; it's being utilised to develop profiles and draw conclusions about you, from your intelligence to your preferences. As the car industry embraces connectivity and autonomous driving, sales of services such as music and video streaming, driver assistance, and self-driving subscriptions are expected to increase. Carmakers can maximise profits by collecting more customer data through these services.
Even Tesla, despite its dominance in the electric vehicle sector, failed Mozilla's security, data control, and AI tests. Tesla has previously been criticised for its privacy procedures, including cases in which staff exchanged recordings and photographs captured by customer car cameras.
As the automotive sector evolves, concerns regarding data security and personal privacy grow. It remains to be seen if automakers will take the necessary safety measures to safeguard your personal information as the smart car revolution advances. In the meanwhile, it's critical to keep informed and cautious about the negative aspects of smart cars.
