According to some experts, data collection in cars has increased by about 60% in recent years. This isn’t just theory, though; earlier this year, General Motors was banned from supplying credit reporting agencies with driver data for a period of five years because of regulators’ allegations that the company had shared information like speeding or nighttime driving without the required authorization.
The big question is what happens to all that data when your car tracks your location, stops, and even when you unbuckle your seat belt at a red light.
How your car collects—and shares—your data
Telematics systems, which are integrated computers that communicate with apps, navigation, and sometimes the manufacturer’s servers, are used in almost all of modern cars. In addition to data from GPS, linked phones, cameras, and sensors, they also record routine activities like turning the wheel or opening doors. Who else can see the tracking is a bigger problem than the tracking itself. Access is occasionally granted to data brokers, marketing firms, and insurers. This can go wrong when driver data is shared without explicit consent, as shown by the General Motors case.
What are you really sacrificing, then? “The first thing drivers should do is find out what data their car collects,” says Andrea Amico, founder of Privacy4Cars. You can ask the dealership or start by reading the privacy documents and user manual. However, “Manufacturers do not always provide this information, and dealership staff are not always well informed,” as Amico warns. Because of this, Privacy4Cars provides a free website where you can enter your VIN (vehicle identification number) to see what your car could be recording and if it’s shared with law enforcement, insurers, or data brokers.
How to change your settings and say no
When you drive away in your new car and tap through warning screens and “agree” messages, that’s where data collection usually begins. If you know where to look, you can change some of this later in the settings. Mozilla’s Lauren Hendry Parsons clarifies, “There are permissions in the settings that you can modify… Review the settings carefully and examine the available options.”
Certain automakers already provide instructions on how one can opt out. Toyota‘s app allows drivers to decline “master data consent.” Ford gives owners the option to stop exchanging inforlation through its mobile app or dashboard. According to BMW, privacy settings are “on a spectrum ranging from allowing all services, including analytics data, to allowing none.” BMW cautions that your car will act like a smartphone in airplane mode and won’t send any data to BMW’s central system if you stop sharing.
Many U.S. companies let you limit how your data is used, decide not to share it, or ask for its deletion, nevertheless certain brands only do so in states with strict privacy laws, according to Consumer Reports. Requests are usually submitted via online forms or the automaker’s app. Also, Privacy4Cars provides a free tool to expedite this process in the U.S., Canada, the EU, the UK, and Australia. Just be aware that if specific data flows are disabled, features like roadside assistance and remote lock/unlock could be affected along with it.
Before you sell: clean your digital traces
If you are selling your car, experts advise doing a factory reset to delete stored info, removing any connected phones, and notifying the manufacturer of the new owner. Your old car can continue to send information linked to your name if you don’t.
“Now your record may be affected by the driving of another person, a complete stranger with whom you have no relationship.” Amico alerts. If the vehicle is still connected to you, someone else’s poor driving could damage your record.