Connected cars face growing scrutiny over data collection

Privacy concerns are expanding from phones and apps to vehicles

Automobiles are increasingly being treated as rolling software platforms, and privacy advocates say that shift has created a major new channel for personal data collection. A report highlighted by the Mozilla Foundation argues that cars now rank among the worst consumer products for privacy, with manufacturers collecting sensitive information that goes well beyond what is required to operate a vehicle.

The warning reflects a broader change in how vehicles are built and sold. Modern cars are tied to mobile apps, connected services, infotainment systems, navigation platforms, and third-party digital ecosystems. Together, those features can turn everyday driving into a continuous stream of behavioral data.

Mozilla’s earlier review of 25 car brands concluded that every brand examined merited its “Privacy Not Included” warning label. According to the source material, the organization found that each company collected more personal data than necessary and used that information for purposes other than simply operating the vehicle or managing the customer relationship.

Why cars are different from other smart devices

Privacy debates have often centered on smart speakers, phones, and wearables. Cars present a different scale of exposure because they combine location tracking, in-cabin interactions, linked phone data, and external service integrations in one product. The source says carmakers can collect information from how drivers use the vehicle, from the connected services inside it, from the companion app on a phone, and from third-party sources such as mapping or audio-service providers.

That structure gives automakers unusually broad visibility into daily life. The Mozilla research cited in the source says companies may gather highly sensitive information, including details about where people drive, how they drive, and what media they consume. It also says some firms generate additional “inferences” about users, extending raw data collection into profiling.

One of the sharpest concerns is that the privacy exposure does not stop with the owner of the vehicle. Anyone riding in a connected car may also be drawn into the same data environment without a direct contractual relationship or a clear opportunity to consent. That complicates the traditional consumer model, where a buyer can at least review terms before using a product.

The software-defined car brings governance questions

The privacy issue is arriving at the same time that vehicles are becoming more software-dependent. Carmakers increasingly differentiate products through digital subscriptions, remote diagnostics, app features, and continuous connectivity. Those capabilities can improve convenience and maintenance, but they also create a commercial incentive to collect, retain, and analyze more information.

For regulators and consumer advocates, the main question is proportionality. What data is truly necessary to deliver navigation, maintenance alerts, emergency support, or media features, and what data is being captured because it has secondary commercial value? Mozilla’s position, as described in the source, is that current practices have crossed that line.

This matters because cars occupy a uniquely intimate place in everyday life. A phone can reveal a person’s habits, but a vehicle can map movement, routine, commuting patterns, and destination histories in a way that may be especially revealing. Once that information is paired with app ecosystems and outside data brokers, the picture becomes even more detailed.

A consumer issue likely to grow

The rise of software-defined vehicles means the privacy debate is unlikely to fade. As more cars add always-on connectivity, more cameras and sensors, and deeper links to digital services, questions about data minimization and consent will become harder to avoid.

The Mozilla Foundation’s argument is not simply that cars collect data, but that they collect too much of it and may use it in ways consumers do not expect. That makes privacy a central design and policy issue for the auto industry, not a side concern buried in terms of service.

For drivers, the immediate challenge is visibility. Most people understand that a smartphone is gathering information. Far fewer may realize that their car, its app, and its service network could be doing something similar at large scale. As connected features become standard rather than premium, the pressure for clearer safeguards will only increase.

This article is based on reporting by CleanTechnica. Read the original article.