MODERN CARS, AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PERSONAL DATA

By Anne Bourgoin

After studying connected watches, connected speakers and meditation applications, the Mozilla Foundation turned its attention to the data collected by car models from the 25 most popular brands on the market. Their verdict is clear: all of them, without exception, collect far more personal data than necessary. Automakers access information about how the car is used, but also about applications such as navigation software or continuous radio playback. The on-board software can also capture data emitted by a cell phone if it is connected or has a manufacturer’s application installed on it.

Modern cars are therefore a grail of data for manufacturers, who can use them and even resell them; Seventy-six percent mention the possibility of selling them and 84% that of sharing them. “Cars are the worst product we have ever tested for the protection of personal data,” concluded the foundation.