How much privacy would you sacrifice to get an EV?

[LincolnLuvr]

- DevSecOps posted this disturbing link in another thread:

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/p...t-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/

- Kia's Privacy Policy (https://www.kia.com/us/en/privacy) gives them permission to collect data about your "racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs; union membership; genetic data; unique biometric information; contents of certain mail, emails, and text messages; or health, sex life or sexual orientation information" (bold/underline is mine). WTF? How is any of that Kia's business? And who exactly are their "affiliates" they share the data with?

- Other members here are concerned about privacy when purchasing Chinese designed, US built cars.

- Tesla workers shared "highly invasive" camera captures from customer vehicles in an employee chat room. BMW, GM, Volvo, Honda also have or are planning to introduce cabin cameras.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/...-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/

- Ford hopefully collects less data on its owners, but to opt out of data collection I think you need to cancel your FordPass account altogether?

I guess I'm hanging onto the illusion of privacy. In reality, we have no privacy as EVs get further connected and cars are turned into mobile data collection centers. Will these issues influence your next EV purchase?

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[RickMachE]

I have no plans to buy a Kia at any point in my life, so don't have that issue. Yes, using connected services means a large amount of data is available to the car company.. You can simply go into the vehicle and turn off the connected services, and lose a bunch of capability.

 

[LincolnLuvr]

I have no plans to buy a Kia at any point in my life, so don't have that issue. Yes, using connected services means a large amount of data is available to the car company.. You can simply go into the vehicle and turn off the connected services, and lose a bunch of capability.

I hope that in the future, basic/critical services won't be tied into connected services.

 

[RickMachE]

I hope that in the future, basic/critical services won't be tied into connected services.

They're not. Navigation works fine without connection, you lose capabilities, but it works with GPS and built-in maps.

 

[LincolnLuvr]

You're asking a person who had to open their mouth upon enlistment and give the government my DNA decades ago.

That said, you're clinging to an illusion of privacy. Everything you do online, everywhere you go, is monitored. Think about all those cameras everywhere.

Good things are coming of this. For example, they're catching unsolved serial killer murders from way back.

But to answer your question, I would still buy an EV despite the privacy issues.

And I want flawless, full self-driving perfected before I get too old to drive. I just don't want the madman to perfect it first.

Great points! And thank you for your service.

I don't mind if auto manufacturers know my Taylor Swift playlist, but what if cameras/microphones mounted in car interiors record personal moments/conversations?

E.g. Tesla workers shared "highly invasive" camera captures from customer vehicles in an employee chat room.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/...-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/

 

[RickMachE]

Great points! And thank you for your service.

I don't mind if auto manufacturers know my Taylor Swift playlist, but what if cameras/microphones mounted in car interiors record personal moments/conversations?

E.g. Tesla workers shared "highly invasive" camera captures from customer vehicles in an employee chat room.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/...-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/

A great reason to never buy a Tesla, as if I need more reasons to never buy a Tesla.

 

[azerik]

I hate to say it but give Ford time. They'll do it as well. Once they're not able to make money on BC and the other connected services they'll resort to it. Some form of vehicular GDPR should be in the works soon I hope.

 

[LincolnLuvr]

A great reason to never buy a Tesla, as if I need more reasons to never buy a Tesla.

Agreed. But Volvo and Chevy are adding interior cameras now and only a matter of time before other manufacturers include them too.

 

[LincolnLuvr]

I hate to say it but give Ford time. They'll do it as well. Once they're not able to make money on BC and the other connected services they'll resort to it. Some form of vehicular GDPR should be in the works soon I hope.

Unfortunately I think you're right about Ford implementing something similar. And agreed about the necessity for an automotive GDPR.

 

[RickMachE]

Agreed. But Volvo and Chevy are adding interior cameras now and only a matter of time before other manufacturers include them too.

Volvo is made by... Chinese company.

Chevy is off the list since my 1980 Chevrolet Malibu...

Seriously though, I get the concerns. Yes, this will become more of an issue over time. Tesla should be fined big money, and have to make restitution to owners, for violating privacy.

Me, I'm happy with Fords for now.

 

[Auto Motive]

You're asking a person who had to open their mouth upon enlistment and give the government my DNA decades ago.

That said, you're clinging to an illusion of privacy. Everything you do online, everywhere you go, is monitored. Think about all those cameras everywhere.

Good things are coming of this. For example, they're catching unsolved serial killer murders from way back.

But to answer your question, I would still buy an EV despite the privacy issues.

And I want flawless, full self-driving perfected before I get too old to drive. I just don't want the madman to perfect it first.

True story in the early 60s. I wanted to write an essay on my heritage as 8th grader. My mothers parents were from Italy and dad mother Poland and step dad Russia. Poland and Italy inquiries were very informative. My Russian letter was flagged and the FBI came to our home to interview me on my step fathers Russian affilliation. What did I know about his days in Russia? My dad was in the Navy on a ship, mom at work and me 14 yr old being questioned by
the FBI. I can truthfiully say it was something mind boggling. Dad said no big deal and mom said get over it. My brothers all laughed. From then on to this day its a family tradition about me and the Russians.

 

[Mirak]

I’m curious, of all the connected services settings in SYNC - how many are actually beneficial to the owner? I think I’ve got almost all of them turned on just because I don’t want to miss updates. But I don’t have a great understanding of what they all do.

 

[Fremont Kid]

I’m curious, of all the connected services settings in SYNC - how many are actually beneficial to the owner? I think I’ve got almost all of them turned on just because I don’t want to miss updates. But I don’t have a great understanding of what they all do.

Great point, as are all the others. I would rather the private sector provide ways to opt out of settings that provide private information unnecessary for EV functioning. This prior to the government needing to regulate the 'guard rails'. And, many of you know I support government involvement where the private sector has not performed due diligence.

 

[ThatGuyLando]

I’m curious, of all the connected services settings in SYNC - how many are actually beneficial to the owner? I think I’ve got almost all of them turned on just because I don’t want to miss updates. But I don’t have a great understanding of what they all do.

PROBABLY very few of those things benefit us if any, it's all just marketing data they will likely sell or use to sell us more stuff.

Also it's basically legal now for auto manufacturers to store whatever text message is sent to the car to read out loud for as long as they want, so since it's legal, you can safely bet that they are storing it.

What's interesting is that there's no legal requirements for auto manufacturers to specify you have to agree/sign up to anything in their marketing for their cars, in order for those features to work.

It's scary to think what will happen to these cars if/when Ford decides they'll no longer support the servers that all these connected services run on, there's no guaranteed time frame these features will be supported, so it's really up to them to say "yeah it's not financially viable to run these services any more".

 

[superdave80]

Chevy is off the list since my 1980 Chevrolet Malibu...

Man, talk about holding a grudge...

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