One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or so the saying goes. While it might not mean too much to one person or another how someone drives their vehicle, that data is proving to be of high interest to automakers. They’re collecting that information along with gigabytes of additional personal data through many late-model cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Many auto manufacturers admit what data they collect through their public privacy policies. What exactly they do with that data is considerably harder to discern but there’s little doubt that some of it ends up in the hands of data brokers, insurance firms, the government, and more. It’s that combination of data that the site Privacy4Cars crunches to come up with its Vehicle Privacy Reports.
Just a few examples provide an insight into just how deep some of the data goes. For instance, Ford F-150 owners should know that the automaker can collect information like how fast you’re going and how you push the pedals. Ford also keeps data on the owner including their location and driving license information.
More: Tesla To Warn German Buyers About Privacy Risks Of Using Sentry Mode
Toyota says that it can collect information like steering behavior, acceleration, speed, braking, and travel direction. Some models can even scan your face when you get into the car. Notably, the full report from Wired quotes a Toyota spokesperson as saying “This data is not readable by humans, and any facial features are only stored on the vehicle and not transmitted to Toyota.” They also say that customers can turn off data transmission.
Chevrolet collects information like location, route history, speed, gear status, and even window data. The automaker can even get info on how you utilize energy from your home if you charge your GM EV there. Again, some of this data may seem entirely useless to any one individual but to a corporation or to a party with ill intent it could prove invaluable.
The entire report breakdown on Wired is especially worth a quick scan if you have a late-model vehicle. At least then you can be aware of exactly what personal data you give away every time you get behind the wheel.
