Carmakers are collecting data and cashing in – and most drivers have no clue

Carmakers are collecting data and cashing in – and most drivers have no clue

Vehicles are increasingly coming connected with Wi-Fi and may know more about you than you think – where you've been, what you're listening to and what kind of coffee you like. All information that privacy advocates are warning may end up in the hands of advertisers or even your insurance company, reports CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave.

Under the hood of one car, Ford's former head of tech John Ellis found four computers. Inside the car, he hooked up his smart phone to show the data streaming in real time.

Source - Carmakers are collecting data...

Real time data streaming, wow. The article mentions that 25 gigs are data are processed by the cars every hour and some of it is streamed back. "Well, I'm not doing anything wrong!?" Are you? Or is the concern of your own privacy instead even if you aren't consciously doing something wrong!

If the car buyer consented then they know about this. Such as the article goes on to say GM can use the data with your consent. Though, as the source is claiming, most car owners, and pertaining to that year of make and model that uses GPS tracking, are unaware.

Privacy advocates point out that it's on us to start thinking about cars for what they've become: data-generating devices.

"We know how tired you are because we have cameras inside of the car looking at the driver to look for eyelid movement," Ellis said. "Some of the cars have an ability to detect alcohol…are you weaving? Are you moving? Are you harsh-braking?"

The claim that this is all for safety research and other. So are many things after 9/11 for example, how's that working out for people banned from flights with no fly lists and more. However, I can see where it would be beneficial to stop DUI offenders from driving. Who wouldn't want the safety from potential DUI drivers(first offenders).


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The following sources are more info on similar tracking systems, as this Op concern is not limited to car manufactures.

"This is a way to track all Americans all the time, regardless of whether they're accused of any wrongdoing" -- ACLU.

"You can't hide from cops with license-plate scanners" - More here

Also, with plans GPS tracking to solve gas tax deficit, has raised concerns of privacy. One source on GPS gas tax tracking. For a rundown of the concerns - "Tracking miles as gas tax alternative raises fairness, privacy concerns" -here.

Sure by now more are familiar with this:
"Court will decide if police need warrant for GPS 'tracking' "

"Do we really want the ability to track everybody all the time, without any suspicion, or without probable cause?" asked Doug Klunder, a Seattle attorney who wrote an amicus brief, or friend of the court, in the case on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington. "How close are we to Big Brother?"

For more

a reply to: dreamingawake

I'm sure they were given permission within the 1250 page EULA they signed.

a reply to: JinMI

Exactly, right in the fine print.

a reply to: JinMI
eula's are a setup they know its to long to reasonably read and they know you dont have the law degree you need to understand it

Some of us car enthusiasts warned this was coming when Onstar became popular and OBDIII was announced.

This is old news for us car guys. Telemetrics track everything.....and guess what happens in an accident? The cops and insurance take your data.

Car companies, paah, they're nothing. Wait till your insurance companies get their black boxes in (in the UK you can get slightly cheaper insurance premiums if you have a black box fitted) it monitors your driving second by second.
Brake harsh, excelerate harshly, speed (it has the ability to know where you are on the road so knows if your in a speed limited zone) and many more. If you break any of these your points go up and next time you want insurance so does your premium.

I just feel so free, thank President tRump. a reply to: dreamingawake

Really dude? OBD 2 started in the 90's.
Pretty sure tman was not forcing car copmanies to install black boxes back then.




a reply to: soundguy

Ummm. They already do. You dont even own the data. The coppers seize it for evidence. They can tell speed....seatbelt....when and how you apllied the brakes. You name it. Dont even get ne started with onstar which can be reversed and used as a listening device.

a reply to: crayzeed