Your Car Is a Surveillance Hub for Big Tech

Researchers analyzed 21 late-model vehicles and 30 mobile apps from 17 major automakers, including Tesla, Ford, Toyota, and GM. The results reveal that 19 of the tested cars transmit data to external parties, while seven apps actively share sensitive identifiers like Vehicle Identification Numbers, personal emails, and precise geolocation. Once this data reaches companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Adobe, it is woven into comprehensive consumer profiles often sold to insurers and banks.

Pairing a mobile app with a vehicle essentially doubles the exposure to tracking. When confronted with these findings, most manufacturers deflected responsibility, blaming third-party cookies or consumer choices. Honda stood as the notable exception, committing to stricter data practices and ordering vendors to purge collected geolocation history. For the average owner, the choice remains stark: either forfeit essential features like remote start or accept that your driving habits are being monetized by a sprawling network of advertisers and data brokers.