Your car might be watching you more closely than you think. Recent reports have revealed that many car brands are collecting and sharing a lot of your personal information, including location data, travel history, and even footage from inside the vehicle. A report from CHOICE has raised serious concerns about just how much data is being shared—and who’s getting it.
Who Needs Privacy Anyway, Right?
What Are They Collecting?
Many modern cars, especially connected ones, come with various features like navigation, voice controls, and even apps that sync with your phone. But these handy tools come at a cost—your privacy.
Of the ten brands investigated, Kia, Hyundai, and Tesla were the most concerning. Here’s what they’re collecting:
- KIA & HYUNDAI track location, travel history, and vehicle performance metrics. This means they can know where you’ve been, how long you were there, and how you’re driving (speed, acceleration, braking patterns, etc.). Kia and Hyundai share this data with third parties, which could include data brokers, insurance companies, or even advertisers.
- TESLA goes even further by recording inside-the-vehicle footage. This includes video snapshots from internal and external cameras, capturing you and your passengers during your drive. Tesla also shares this footage with third parties, which raises major privacy concerns.
- Australia’s biggest car brand, TOYOTA, confirms it collects vehicle location data along with “Drive Pulse” data, which assesses a driver’s acceleration, braking, and cornering habits on each trip. This information is shared with Toyota, its “related companies,” and third-party service providers engaged by the company.
- FORD also gathers and shares driver data with related companies and contractors but states it does not “sell data to brokers.”
- MG collects and shares data with various “service providers,” though it claims not to share data with third parties except “to provide functionality.” We found this clause unclear, and MG did not respond to repeated requests for clarification.
- MAZDA collects “voice consumption” data and shares it with service providers and unnamed third parties. Despite requests, Mazda did not clarify what this data includes and also shares information with third parties for advertising purposes.
- Kudos to MITSUBISHI, SUBARU, and ISUZU UTE who currently do not have connected services features enabled in vehicles sold in the Australian market.
How Much Data Are They Collecting?
The amount of data your car is collecting might surprise you. According to the CHOICE report, connected cars can gather data on:
- GPS location
- Driving behaviour: speed, braking, and acceleration patterns
- Car diagnostics: fuel efficiency, battery performance, and more
- Media usage: what music you’re listening to, what apps you’re using, and when you’re using them.
- Personal contacts: if your phone is synced with the car, it could access your contact list
- Audio data: commands you give the car vocally
Kia, Hyundai, and Tesla share this data with various third parties, including service providers, marketing companies, and insurers. Tesla, in particular, has been singled out for not providing a clear opt-out option for customers who don’t want their in-car footage shared.
How Could This Data Be Used?
- Insurance companies: Your driving habits could be shared with insurance providers, which could affect your premiums. For example, if your car data shows you regularly speed or drive aggressively, you might pay more for insurance.
- Advertisers: Data brokers could sell your location data to advertisers, who would then target you with ads based on where you go or how you drive. For instance, if your car frequently parks near a specific shopping centre, you might start seeing more ads for stores in that area.
- Law enforcement: In some cases, law enforcement agencies can request data from carmakers for investigations. This could include GPS data showing where you’ve been, which could be used in legal cases without you knowing.
- Government surveillance: With so much data being collected, there’s a growing concern that governments could use this information for mass surveillance, tracking citizens’ movements and behaviour without their consent.
Drivers are often opted-in automatically when buying the car or downloading the car’s app
Why Is This a Big Deal?
Sharing personal data like your driving habits or even your location might not seem like a big deal—until you consider how this information can be used against you. Here are some of the risks:
- Privacy invasion: Your car is essentially a surveillance tool. Most people aren’t aware that their vehicle is collecting and sharing personal information, which can feel like an invasion of privacy. This data can also be sold to advertisers or other third parties, who can then track your habits or target you with ads.
- Safety risks for vulnerable people: If you’re a domestic violence survivor or someone who’s trying to protect your privacy for safety reasons, the idea of your car sharing your location data is terrifying. An abuser could use this information to track you down, putting you at serious risk.
- Stalking and harassment risks: For public figures, activists, or journalists, sharing location data or in-car footage could expose them to stalking or harassment. The wrong people could gain access to this information and use it to harm or threaten them.
- Cybersecurity risks: Hacking is a real concern. If your car’s data is stored online or shared with third parties, it could be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Hackers could potentially gain access to your location data or footage, putting your personal safety and privacy at risk.
What Can You Do?
Unfortunately, when it comes to protecting your data from being collected and shared by carmakers, you have limited control. Many car manufacturers do not give clear opt-out options, and the data-sharing features are often built into the car’s systems. However, there are a few things you can try:
- Check your car’s privacy policy: It’s not fun, but reading the privacy policy can give you an idea of what data is being collected and shared. This information is usually hidden in the fine print, so dig deep.
- Disable tracking features: In some cases, you may be able to turn off certain tracking features in your car’s settings. This might mean disabling the GPS tracking or un-syncing your phone from the car.
- Limit personal data sharing: Be mindful of what information you share with your car. For example, avoid syncing your entire contact list or personal apps with the car’s system.
- Advocate for stronger privacy laws: If you’re concerned about how much data your car is collecting, consider supporting calls for stricter privacy regulations that force carmakers to give consumers more control over their data.
If you drive a modern car, it’s important to be aware it might be collecting and sharing more information than you realise. While this data can be useful for improving services, it also poses real risks to your privacy and safety. Taking steps to protect your data and staying informed about how it’s used can help you keep Big Brother from watching too closely.
