Vehicles Spying on Drivers: Study Reveals Widespread Data Sharing with Tech Giants

Researchers from Northeastern University, working with Consumer Reports, have conducted an investigation into data sharing practices of modern vehicles and their companion apps. The study tested 21 vehicles and found that all of them share driver data with third parties. This includes personal identifiable information such as names, vehicle identification numbers, or precise locations.

The researchers sent a total of 30 companion apps to test, and 28 of them sent data to at least one outside advertising or analytics company. Among the recipients of this shared data are Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. The Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer, Lucid Air, and both Tesla models tested sent data to the most outside firms.

The study's findings have significant implications for car buyers. As one co-author noted, 'buyers cannot currently purchase a new car that does not track them.' This raises important questions about consumer privacy and consent in the automotive industry.