Modern cars have been transformed into “computers on wheels,” allowing giant corporations to harvest intimate details of drivers’ lives to increase profits, according to experts.
From weight and facial expressions to precise location data, vehicles are now collecting a startling amount of information that can lead to increased insurance costs for consumers, reports BBC.
A “privacy problem”
Darrell West, a senior fellow in the Centre for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institute in Washington DC, warned that cars now transmit a vast number of data points to manufacturers and third-party applications. “It basically means your life can be recreated almost on a second-by-second basis,” West stated.
The information harvested includes location history, passenger identities, radio preferences, and driving habits such as braking force and seatbelt usage. Some vehicles even use internal cameras to monitor the driver’s seat. A 2023 analysis by Mozilla examined 25 car brands and found that every single one failed to meet basic privacy and security standards, labelling cars the “worst product category” ever reviewed for privacy.
Commercial exploitation
Data brokers and insurance companies are among the primary buyers of this information. In one instance, General Motors (GM) sold driver information to LexisNexis, a data broker. One driver reportedly found that LexisNexis held a 130-page report detailing every trip he and his wife took over six months, which contributed to a 21 per cent hike in his insurance premiums.
While GM has since been barred by the US Federal Trade Commission from selling vehicle data for five years without express consent, other manufacturers continue the practice. Kia’s privacy policy, for example, suggested it could collect data on a driver’s “sex life” and health, though Kia spokesperson James Bell clarified this was due to listing California’s broad legal definitions of “sensitive data” and denied collecting such intimate details.
New regulations and safety
Privacy advocates are particularly concerned about a new US federal law requiring car companies to install infrared biometric cameras and systems to detect impaired or tired driving.
Jen Caltrider, a privacy analyst at Mozilla, noted that while the technology is intended for safety, the law lacks provisions to protect the trove of medical and behavioural data these systems will create. “So many of the data collecting advances we see in cars are done under the guise of safety,” Caltrider said.
Disparity in protections
While the US lacks a national privacy law, the situation is slightly better in the UK and Europe due to special protections for sensitive information and the right for consumers to access or delete their data.
However, experts warn that enforcement remains a challenge and many drivers remain “beholden to privacy policies” they never read.
With 95 per cent of cars predicted to have internet connections by 2030, experts suggest several steps to limit surveillance. Michael DeLong of the Consumer Federation of America advises drivers not to enrol in insurance telematics programmes if they have privacy concerns, noting that such schemes do not guarantee lower rates. Consumers are also encouraged to adjust privacy settings in their car’s infotainment systems and accompanying apps to limit data sharing where possible.
