Modern connected cars collect up to 25 GB of data per hour — including your location, driving habits, voice recordings, and even biometric data. And automakers are selling it.
What Cars Collect
- GPS location history (everywhere you drive, when, how long you stay)
- Driving behavior (speed, braking, acceleration patterns)
- Voice recordings from in-car microphones
- Phone contacts and call logs (synced via Bluetooth)
- Camera footage (some models with cabin-facing cameras)
- Biometric data (weight sensors, face recognition for driver profiles)
Who Buys It
Insurance companies (to adjust your premiums), data brokers, advertisers, and in some cases law enforcement (without a warrant). A Mozilla study found that 84% of car brands share or sell personal data.
How to Protect Yourself
Decline connected services during setup. Disable data sharing in your car's settings (buried deep in menus). Don't sync your phone contacts. Use a Faraday bag for your key fob when parked. Consider privacy-focused brands — unfortunately, almost none exist.
