Modern cars are often described as “computers on wheels.” They come with automated driver assistance systems, large display screens, Internet connections and a multitude of ways to sync with smartphones.
Yet in the rush to innovate and one-up competitors with ever newer technology, things may have gone too far. Some developments have made driving safer, but others veer toward tech excess that can actually harm drivers. Cars in the current generation can be pricier to repair, harder to understand and operate and, some experts in the field say, more likely to cause distraction and driver disengagement.
And a report released last week now suggests that some new car tech also poses a major threat to data privacy. The new report was issued by the Mozilla Foundation, an Internet-focused nonprofit group, and concludes that when it comes to handling users’ personal information, today’s high-tech cars are the worst category of consumer products the organization has ever reviewed. Cars “have evolved into a privacy nightmare,” says Jen Caltrider, director of Mozilla’s privacy reporting program. Because they incorporate motion and pressure sensors, GPS, cameras, microphones and smartphone connectivity, modern vehicles can collect an astounding range of information on their drivers and passengers. The researchers assessed 25 popular brands’ privacy policies and found that 21 of these allow car companies to share or sell customer data with external service providers, data brokers and other businesses. Privacy policies from two brands—Kia and Nissan—even include a clause that notes that each company may collect and disclose data on users’ sexual orientation or sexual behavior.
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