The cars have microphones, sensors and pairings with mobile phones, which gives car companies access to data that, according to the Mozilla Foundation, is a disaster for personal privacy.
84 percent of the 25 car manufacturers studied have the option of sharing data with outsiders. 76 percent can sell data and 56 percent can share the data with authorities if requested by them.
Car companies collect more data than necessary, according to the report. It concerns sensitive information such as health and weight when passengers get into the car, and the interception of calls via microphones.
Tesla is the worst of the car brands, according to the report. But for example, Nissan claims to be able to sell information about passengers’ sex life and health data, Volkswagen stated that they can collect the driver’s voice.
— It’s no longer just about selling cars to make money, it’s about selling data, and using that data to make money, says Jen Caltrider of the Mozilla Foundation to Politico.