Mozilla Foundation Condemns Data Collection By Cars

The Mozilla Foundation has issued a strong condemnation of the extensive data collection practices employed by car manufacturers, labelling the automotive sector as the worst category of products for privacy. In a comprehensive review of 25 car brands, Mozilla found that every single one collected more personal data than necessary, often using this information for purposes unrelated to vehicle operation or customer service. The foundation highlighted how modern connected cars act as sophisticated data-harvesting devices, capable of monitoring drivers’ behaviours, locations, and even intimate personal details. The scope of data collected by these vehicles is vast and intrusive. Beyond tracking driving habits such as speed and braking, car companies gather information from connected services, smartphone apps, and third-party providers like Google Maps or Sirius XM. This data can include sensitive details such as medical records, genetic information, and even inferred characteristics like intelligence or political beliefs. Jen Caltrider, a privacy analyst at Mozilla, emphasised that companies use this wealth of data to build detailed psychological profiles of drivers, often without their awareness or consent. Recent legal actions underscore the seriousness of these privacy concerns. General Motors, for instance, recently paid a $12.75 million penalty for selling driving data collected through its OnStar system to data brokers without proper consent. Such incidents reveal the murky market for car data, where information can be bought and sold by insurance companies, law enforcement, and other third parties with little transparency or regulation. The lack of clear rules means that once data leaves the vehicle, drivers lose control over how it is used or shared. While car manufacturers disclose some of their data practices in lengthy privacy policies, these documents are rarely read by consumers, leaving many unaware of the extent of surveillance. Some companies, like Kia, have policies that mention collecting highly sensitive information, although they deny actively gathering such data. The opaque nature of these practices raises significant questions about the future of privacy in an increasingly connected automotive landscape, with potential implications for personal freedom, insurance pricing, and even political surveillance. The Mozilla Foundation’s findings call for urgent scrutiny and stronger regulation of data collection in the automotive industry. As vehicles become more integrated with digital technologies, the balance between innovation and privacy protection must be carefully managed. Without greater transparency and consumer control, drivers risk becoming unwitting sources of valuable personal data in a rapidly expanding and largely unregulated marketplace.