Is your car spying on you? What Australian drivers over 60 should know 🚗🕵️
The rise of smart cars and connected vehicles offers many conveniences, from in-car navigation to advanced safety features. However, these same vehicles are increasingly being flagged for collecting personal data from drivers, often without clear consent. For older Australians – who may not be tech-savvy – understanding these risks is critical.
Below, we explore how modern cars gather data, the potential privacy issues, and practical tips to protect yourself.
What data is your car collecting?
Modern connected cars, including those sold by popular brands like Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai, act much like smartphones on wheels. They collect vast amounts of information, including:
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- Location data: Your driving routes, speed, and stopovers.
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- Driving behavior: Braking patterns, acceleration, and other habits.
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- Personal information: Contacts synced from your phone, call logs, and even text messages.
- Voice recordings: Some systems actively listen through voice-assistant features to respond to commands, but they may also pick up conversations unintentionally.
These cars transmit the collected data back to manufacturers, which may share it with third parties like insurers, marketers, and even law enforcement authorities, raising concerns over how it is used and stored.
Why should older adults care about this?
Data collection may seem harmless at first glance, but it poses several risks:
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- Privacy breaches: Sensitive information about your daily routines could fall into the wrong hands if mishandled or leaked.
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- Targeted marketing: Insurers or advertisers could use your driving habits to adjust premiums or bombard you with ads.
- Security vulnerabilities: Hackers could potentially intercept data or even gain remote control of the vehicle.
For older Australians, understanding these risks is essential, especially since many may not realise how much personal data they are giving away.
Real-World Case: The Risks Exposed
A recent investigation revealed that some car manufacturers are vague about how data is collected and shared, with little transparency around how long it is stored or with whom it is shared. For example, Toyota was highlighted for sharing data with external partners, and Tesla’s vehicles were noted for their comprehensive tracking abilities. This lack of clarity can leave drivers vulnerable to privacy violations and misuse of their data.
How to protect yourself
Here are some straightforward steps you can take to safeguard your privacy when using connected vehicles:
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- Turn off data-sharing options: Explore your car’s settings to disable non-essential data sharing where possible.
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- Decline or limit phone syncing: Avoid sharing contacts or call logs if you don’t need to sync your phone.
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- Be cautious with voice commands: If your vehicle has a voice assistant, disable it unless you need to use it.
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- Review manufacturer policies: Check your car manufacturer’s privacy policy to understand what data they collect and how it’s used.
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- Use offline navigation: Consider downloading offline maps to avoid location tracking through built-in GPS services.
- Update your software: Regularly update your car’s software to ensure the latest security patches are in place.
Source: CHOICE table via article Drive one of these car brands? This is how much of your data they’re tracking
What models and brands were called out?
Several car manufacturers have been called out for collecting and sharing customer data, raising concerns for Australian consumers. According to investigations by Choice, Kia, Hyundai, and Tesla were identified as the most problematic in terms of data privacy. These companies not only collect personal data but also share it with third parties. For instance, Kia and Hyundai gather voice data and transmit it to external partners, while Tesla captures video clips from internal cameras and distributes this data as well.
Toyota also faces criticism for its privacy policies, which collect extensive information about drivers, including location, driving behavior, and personal data such as addresses and phone numbers. If customers don’t opt out, Toyota may share their data with third-party entities like insurance companies and debt collectors. However, when questioned, Toyota claimed that they use encryption and other security measures to safeguard this data and comply with Australian laws.
Interestingly, some brands, including Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Isuzu Ute, have been found to refrain from collecting or sharing customer data in Australia. These findings highlight that privacy practices vary widely among manufacturers, making it essential for consumers—particularly older Australians who may be less familiar with technology—to understand the implications of data collection by their vehicles.
The takeaway for our readers: It’s essential to read the fine print of privacy policies before purchasing a connected vehicle. Be cautious with voice-command systems or in-car apps and consider disabling features that could collect unnecessary data. Opt-out options might be available, but be aware that removing certain data-gathering technologies could impact warranties or insurance policies. Lastly, Australian privacy laws are still catching up with these new practices, so it’s wise to stay vigilant and protect your data whenever possible.
As cars become more like computers, it’s essential to think about the personal information they collect and how to protect it. While connected cars offer many conveniences, they also introduce privacy challenges that shouldn’t be ignored—especially for older Australians who value their privacy but may not always be aware of how technology can intrude into their lives.
Being proactive by tweaking settings and understanding your car’s capabilities will go a long way toward protecting your personal information and ensuring a safer driving experience. Stay informed and make privacy part of your driving habits—just as you do with road safety.
For more detailed analysis on this topic, you can check the original articles on Information Age and Choice for insights into the latest findings listed below.
Read more articles on Technology here
Sources:
– Drive one of these car brands? This is how much of your data they’re tracking. CHOICE. By Jarni Blakkarly, 9 Oct 2024. Read article
– Data-driven: Your connected car might be spying on you, Information Age. By Kate Millar, 10 Oct 2024. Read article
– Your Car Is Spying On You And Sharing Data With Third Parties. Forbes. By Lars Daniel, 11 Oct 2024. Read article
– Is your car spying on you? The car brands that collect and share your data revealed in new investigation from Choice with Hyundai, Kia, Tesla, Ford and Toyota at the top of the list. Cars Guide. By Samuel Irvine, 10 Oct 2024. Read article
