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.
Your Car Is Tracking You and Sharing the Data
Every vehicle tested in a new Northeastern University and Consumer Reports study transmitted data to at least one third-party domain. Researchers found that over half of the 21 cars examined reached out to advertising, tracking, or analytics firms, turning modern dashboards into sophisticated data-harvesting tools for outside entities.
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.
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