New Cars Spying on Drivers: Study Reveals Widespread Data Sharing Practices

Researchers from Northeastern University and Consumer Reports have uncovered widespread data sharing practices among new cars and their companion apps. In a recent study, they tested 21 vehicles and 30 companion apps and found that most shared driver data with third parties.

The study revealed that out of the 30 companion apps, 28 sent data to at least one outside advertising or analytics company. Seven of these apps also shared personally identifiable information such as names, vehicle identification numbers, or precise locations.

The major tech companies Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft were among the recipients of driver data from these vehicles. The study found that certain models, including the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer, Lucid Air, and both Tesla models tested, sent data to the most outside firms.

One researcher noted that buyers cannot currently purchase a new car that does not track them. This raises concerns about driver privacy and the extent to which companies are collecting and using this data.