The “The Mozilla Foundation” has revealed through a new study that modern cars are the riskiest way for the violation of personal data, including information related to one’s sexual life. Until now, most people considered that social media platforms posed the greatest threat to their personal data. However, it turns out that we were mistaken, as we lacked awareness of what happens in our cars. This is the conclusion reached by “The Mozilla Foundation,” a long-standing non-profit organization that advocates for a healthier internet. The title of their new report essentially summarizes it as: “It’s Official: Cars are the Worst Privacy Offenders We’ve Ever Seen.”
In reality, it has been demonstrated that modern cars are data-guzzling machines. This should not come as a surprise, as cars like Tesla are marketed as “computers on wheels.” They have the capability to monitor, listen, collect information, and know everything about where you’re going and what you’re doing.
Mozilla examined 25 car brands for its report. According to the organization, cars collect an extensive amount of personal data that goes beyond just the car’s functions and includes all connected services and applications within the vehicle. “They can gather extremely intimate information about you — from your medical data, genetic information, your sexual life, to how fast you drive, where you go, and what songs you play in your car,” the report states. Nearly all of the car brands (84%) examined either share or sell this personal data, with most of them willing to share your information with the government. It’s worth noting that only European car brands Renault and Dacia allow drivers to delete this personal data.
Which company performed the worst in this regard? You guessed it, Tesla stands out as particularly unreliable according to Mozilla. What can we do about it? We need to learn about our rights. Consumers should be informed about how their data is used and protected, and they should have the ability to give their consent for specific uses of this data. The relationship between cars and personal data is crucial and should be managed with care and respect for people’s privacy. Striking a balance between using data for better car performance and protecting individual privacy is a challenge but necessary for the safe and efficient integration of technology and mobility.
