Your Car Is Tracking You and Sharing the Data

The investigation examined 21 vehicles from 19 different brands, alongside 30 companion mobile applications. Seven of these apps went further by transmitting sensitive identifying details, including precise GPS locations, vehicle identification numbers, and user phone numbers. This mapping of data flows between cars, apps, and third-party companies highlights a growing privacy gap in the automotive industry.

Regulators have already begun targeting these practices. The Federal Trade Commission recently barred General Motors from sharing driver location data with consumer reporting agencies for five years, while California officials have penalized Ford and Honda for obstructing opt-out requests. David Choffnes, the project lead and former director of Northeastern’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute, stated that the findings warrant significant concern regarding user privacy. While some automakers maintain that their data collection practices remain within legal bounds, Honda has taken steps to delete specific location data and updated its software to curb transmission, suggesting that public and regulatory scrutiny is forcing a shift in how manufacturers handle driver information.