Study: Cars Collect and Share Data with Third Parties

Cars are the latest addition to the list of devices collecting your data. A new study from Northeastern University, conducted with Consumer Reports, has revealed that nearly every vehicle tested shares information with third parties.

The research involved testing 21 vehicles from 19 brands, along with 30 accompanying mobile applications. The findings indicated that every car transmitted data to at least one external domain. Over half of the vehicles contacted companies specializing in advertising, tracking, or analytics. Furthermore, seven apps transmitted identifiable details such as phone numbers, vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and precise location data.

These findings emerge months after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) barred General Motors from sharing driver location and driving data with consumer reporting agencies for five years. California regulators have also fined Ford and Honda for making it difficult for consumers to opt out of data sharing. According to Consumer Reports, this marks the first study to map the data sharing practices between vehicles, their apps, and outside companies.

David Choffnes, the project lead from Northeastern University, stated that there is significant cause for concern. Automakers' responses have varied, with some defending their practices as legal. Honda, for instance, had its analytics provider delete location data and updated its app to cease transmission. The study highlights growing privacy concerns regarding the data collected by modern vehicles.