Home · Technology · Sep 29 archive
Your car’s data privacy problems are worse than you think
Confirmed
In Short: A study by Northeastern University and Consumer Reports reveals that modern vehicles transmit data to third-party domains, raising privacy concerns.
Researchers from Northeastern University, in collaboration with Consumer Reports, have published an in-depth examination of connected vehicle privacy behaviors, revealing that all 21 tested vehicles transmit data to third-party domains.
David Choffnes, project lead and former director of Northeastern’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute, said the goal was to highlight the extent of modern vehicle data tracking and the lack of control owners have over it.
Choffnes noted that an automaker’s choice of software platform directly impacts how much data reaches third parties. He emphasized, “I think the conclusion is that there’s a lot to be worried about.”
The study also examined 30 companion mobile apps to understand the privacy implications of the connected vehicle ecosystem. It found that 19 of the 21 vehicles tested sent traffic to at least one third party and seven of the 30 apps gave sensitive data such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), emails, phone numbers, and precise location to third-party companies associated with tracking and advertising.
The legality of this data harvesting remains hotly debated. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission penalized General Motors for illegally collecting and selling precise location and driving behavior data without informed consent.
When contacted, most automakers shifted blame elsewhere, often to consumers. Honda, however, improved its data collection practices and ordered its vendor Amplitude to delete all geolocation data it had received.
Modern-day vehicles built with connected car technology such as WiFi and GPS collect vast amounts of data about their owners, including where they drive, how fast they accelerate, and how hard they brake.
The implications aren’t great for consumers, whose data is being shared with tech companies including Adobe, ContentSquare, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snap, and Yahoo.
To address these concerns, it’s important for consumers to be aware of the data their vehicles are sharing and to consider the privacy settings and policies of their car manufacturers and companion apps.
What this adds
The study highlights the extent of data sharing in modern vehicles and the need for better consumer awareness and regulation.
Automakers' responses to the study varied, with Honda being the only one to take immediate action to improve data collection practices.
What's confirmed
- Researchers from Northeastern University, in collaboration with Consumer Reports, have published an in-depth examination of connected vehicle privacy behaviors, revealing that all 21 tested vehicles transmit data to third-party domains.
- David Choffnes, project lead and former director of Northeastern’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute, said the goal was to highlight the extent of modern vehicle data tracking and the lack of control owners have over it.
- The study also examined 30 companion mobile apps to understand the privacy implications of the connected vehicle ecosystem. It found that 19 of the 21 vehicles tested sent traffic to at least one third party and seven of the 30 apps gave sensitive data such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), emails, phone numbers, and precise location to third-party companies associated with tracking and advertising.
- The legality of this data harvesting remains hotly debated. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission penalized General Motors for illegally collecting and selling precise location and driving behavior data without informed consent.
- When contacted, most automakers shifted blame elsewhere, often to consumers. Honda, however, improved its data collection practices and ordered its vendor Amplitude to delete all geolocation data it had received.
- Modern-day vehicles built with connected car technology such as WiFi and GPS collect vast amounts of data about their owners, including where they drive, how fast they accelerate, and how hard they brake.
- The implications aren’t great for consumers, whose data is being shared with tech companies including Adobe, ContentSquare, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snap, and Yahoo.
- To address these concerns, it’s important for consumers to be aware of the data their vehicles are sharing and to consider the privacy settings and policies of their car manufacturers and companion apps.
What's still developing
- “We sort of think, ‘Oh, well, if your online companies can track what you’re doing online, but you’re in your car, are they tracking what car you have?’” Choffnes said.
- Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.
- Running back to a life you left for good reasons doesn’t solve any of your current problems Being able to afford to stop working and enjoy retirement is something many of us daydream about while we’re in the office.
- Sometimes, the things we think are missing in our lives aren’t always the things we really need.
- The problems I had thought were stressing me out so much before retiring, in retrospect, seemed to be filling my soul with a goodness that I didn’t get when I retired.
- I didn’t have these problems when I was working, so the solution must be to start working again, right?
- Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
- First-year head coach Kevin Stefanski faced quarterback problems during his time with the Cleveland Browns.
- “Be very serious with your physician about the value of lowering it as early as possible for as many years as possible,” Coresh said.
- But doctors say they aren't quite ready yet — and besides, you don’t need a test before trying to lower your risk.
- Food and Drug Administration has cleared four blood tests to help doctors diagnose whether Alzheimer’s — not another kind of dementia or something else — is behind someone’s memory problems or other cognitive symptoms.
- One large study found people who reached middle age without high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking lived dementia-free for a lot longer — nearly 13 years longer — than people with all three of those common health problems in their 50s.