Calling all cars…privacy not included

Big Brother is watching you everywhere, including in your car.  Surveillance on wheels. Every car since circa 1996 has incorporated a cellular tracking system with modems and concealed antennas. They sell them to you for ‘emergencies’ and ‘roadside assistance’. Look how modern you are! A bigger question is, why does your car need Internet?

Those bright navigation screens have eyes…and ears! Do you use built-in online maps? They know where you’re going. EasyPass, M-Pass? They know where you’ve been, too. And so will your wife—no privacy curtains at the love hotel!

The worst offender was Nissan, Mozilla said. The carmaker’s privacy policy suggests the manufacturer collects information including sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic data, though there’s no details about how exactly that data is gathered. Nissan reserves the right to share and sell “preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes” to data brokers, law enforcement, and other third parties.

Don’t believe me? Verbatim "notification," from Nissan's Privacy Policy [bold print mine]:

TYPES OF PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED

"Sensitive personal information, including driver’s license number, national or state identification number, citizenship status, immigration status, race, national origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, sexual activity, precise geolocation, health diagnosis data, and genetic information."

DISCLOSED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSE? Yes

THIRD PARTIES to WHOM DISCLOSED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSE:

"Service Providers or affiliates (including relevant Service Providers) where permitted or with consent, including Nissan’s operational or direct marketing purposes."

This is data that Nissan is gleaning from you whenever you use the car. Phone calls, private conversations, Internet searches, locations that you travel. WE’RE PAYING THEM to spy on us, all components using copyright protection (for them not you) called Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Apps—just fuhgeddabout it!

These onboard systems are very difficult to deinstall. Depends how much you care about your freedom. You can always carry separate devices for the same functions. Phone (duh, don’t connect it to your car!) for maps and GPS, USB stick for music. Think about how often you’ll use all this extraneous surveillance gear and how much will it cost to replace when it dies.

• Data Collection: Cars collect data on speed, location, braking, and steering, along with information from connected smartphones (contacts, texts). Some brands, such as Nissan, have policies mentioning the potential collection of genetic or sexual information.

• Data Sharing/Selling: 84% of car brands surveyed share data with service providers, and 19% admit to selling it to third parties or data brokers.

• Law Enforcement Access: Nearly half of the brands disclose user data to the government or law enforcement without a warrant, only requiring a request.

• Worst Offenders: Mozilla flagged Nissan, VW, Tesla, Ford, and Subaru for particularly egregious data practices.

• Functionality Risks: In some cases, opting out of data collection can limit car features. 

Why This Matters

• Surveillance: The constant, real-time tracking (often 25+ GB per hour) is considered a massive surveillance risk.

• Insurance Risks: Collected data can be used to monitor driving behavior, which could directly influence insurance premiums. Insurance companies offer discounts for customers who opt into a usage-based insurance program linked to your car. Every state except California currently allows the use of telematics data for insurance rating.

• Limited Control: Drivers have very little control over what data is collected, and for many, the car acts as a "data-harvesting machine". 

Front-facing and backup cameras, they’re cameras! Do you really want to live with nanny-state speed delimiters and lane departure assist measuring your odometer?!? WTF! Wouldn’t want to break any rules.

AI licence-plate readers at every intersection and drones are not imagined by the paranoid. They really are following you! Analog always beats digital—you don’t need all that shiny stuff. Carmakers will charge you subscriptions and governments will tax you on it.

Time to jailbreak your car! I didn’t ask for this <deleted>, I don’t trust it, and I don’t want it.

Mozilla research:

https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/categories/cars/

It’s Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy

What Data Does My Car Collect About Me and Where Does It Go?

After Researching Cars and Privacy, Here’s What Keeps Us up at Night

Doesn't really worry me as I don't do anything that interesting. And I only have government minimum insurance.

Nobody has actually been able to tell me how watching me, actually harms me in any way.

4 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Every car since circa 1996 has incorporated a cellular tracking system with modems and concealed antennas.

Maybe a typo there , perhaps from 2006 but even that would be a bit early IMHO.

The EV vehicles yes every single one built in tracking for sure !! I mentioned it in the EV forum here and was told in no uncertain terms that it was a non issue and to just shut up about it..stop polluting the discussion about how great EV's are with inconvenient facts.

Since 1996.... I gotta call BS.

The "Tin Foil Hat Brigade" are on the warpath again I see!

'Tin foil hatters' will be proved right again , wait and see..just the other day 'Obama' admitted that there are aliens.... the original 'conspiracy theory' now mainstream news.

3 minutes ago, johng said:

'Obama' admitted that there are aliens

Former US President Barack Obama said he’s seen no evidence that aliens have made contact with Earth, clarifying his position on extraterrestrials after comments he made in a podcast went viral.

8 minutes ago, johng said:

'Tin foil hatters' will be proved right again , wait and see..just the other day 'Obama' admitted that there are aliens.... the original 'conspiracy theory' now mainstream news.

Yes, these aliens are among us. They walk the earth, calling themselves progressives.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Nobody has actually been able to tell me how watching me, actually harms me in any way.

Do you feel warm and fuzzy knowing that big brother is watching over you ?

I expect you also leave your doors and windows unlocked don't have curtains , shower out in the back yard for all to see and post on social media using your real name too ? well perhaps not that warm and fuzzy.

3 minutes ago, johng said:

and post on social media using your real name too ?

BritManToo = real name? JohnG = made-up name. 555

2 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

JohnG = made-up name. 555

I'm felling warm and fuzzy knowing that big brother is watching my every move 😋

21 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

clarifying his position on extraterrestrials after comments he made in a podcast went viral.

I'd like him to clarify why he bombed so many 'aliens'...maybe that's why they are reluctant to make contact ?

When I see my past sexualy adventures in my vehicles, on the internet, I'll be contacting my lawyer and suing for compensation, as surely they made a small mint. Bastards.

Komatsu heavy equipment have been sending information about operating hours and location back to HQ for many, many years.

Komatsu uses that info. to gauge, amongst other things, the state of a nations/geographic areas construction, mining activity and therefore economic growth etc..

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The carmaker’s privacy policy suggests the manufacturer collects information including sexual activity

The last time I had sex in a car the internet hadn't even been invented.

On 2/17/2026 at 6:30 PM, johng said:

'Tin foil hatters' will be proved right again , wait and see..just the other day 'Obama' admitted that there are aliens.... the original 'conspiracy theory' now mainstream news.

And today Trump says he will release all the UFO files !

On 2/17/2026 at 4:50 PM, johng said:

Maybe a typo there , perhaps from 2006 but even that would be a bit early IMHO.

The EV vehicles yes every single one built in tracking for sure !! I mentioned it in the EV forum here and was told in no uncertain terms that it was a non issue and to just shut up about it..stop polluting the discussion about how great EV's are with inconvenient facts.

Nope, Cadillac started in 1996. Did I mention EVs???

On 2/17/2026 at 4:40 AM, unblocktheplanet said:

Calling all cars…privacy not included

Big Brother is watching you everywhere, including in your car.  Surveillance on wheels. Every car since circa 1996 has incorporated a cellular tracking system with modems and concealed antennas. They sell them to you for ‘emergencies’ and ‘roadside assistance’. Look how modern you are! A bigger question is, why does your car need Internet?

Those bright navigation screens have eyes…and ears! Do you use built-in online maps? They know where you’re going. EasyPass, M-Pass? They know where you’ve been, too. And so will your wife—no privacy curtains at the love hotel!

The worst offender was Nissan, Mozilla said. The carmaker’s privacy policy suggests the manufacturer collects information including sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic data, though there’s no details about how exactly that data is gathered. Nissan reserves the right to share and sell “preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes” to data brokers, law enforcement, and other third parties.

Don’t believe me? Verbatim "notification," from Nissan's Privacy Policy [bold print mine]:

TYPES OF PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED

"Sensitive personal information, including driver’s license number, national or state identification number, citizenship status, immigration status, race, national origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, sexual activity, precise geolocation, health diagnosis data, and genetic information."

DISCLOSED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSE? Yes

THIRD PARTIES to WHOM DISCLOSED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSE:

"Service Providers or affiliates (including relevant Service Providers) where permitted or with consent, including Nissan’s operational or direct marketing purposes."

This is data that Nissan is gleaning from you whenever you use the car. Phone calls, private conversations, Internet searches, locations that you travel. WE’RE PAYING THEM to spy on us, all components using copyright protection (for them not you) called Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Apps—just fuhgeddabout it!

These onboard systems are very difficult to deinstall. Depends how much you care about your freedom. You can always carry separate devices for the same functions. Phone (duh, don’t connect it to your car!) for maps and GPS, USB stick for music. Think about how often you’ll use all this extraneous surveillance gear and how much will it cost to replace when it dies.

• Data Collection: Cars collect data on speed, location, braking, and steering, along with information from connected smartphones (contacts, texts). Some brands, such as Nissan, have policies mentioning the potential collection of genetic or sexual information.

• Data Sharing/Selling: 84% of car brands surveyed share data with service providers, and 19% admit to selling it to third parties or data brokers.

• Law Enforcement Access: Nearly half of the brands disclose user data to the government or law enforcement without a warrant, only requiring a request.

• Worst Offenders: Mozilla flagged Nissan, VW, Tesla, Ford, and Subaru for particularly egregious data practices.

• Functionality Risks: In some cases, opting out of data collection can limit car features. 

Why This Matters

• Surveillance: The constant, real-time tracking (often 25+ GB per hour) is considered a massive surveillance risk.

• Insurance Risks: Collected data can be used to monitor driving behavior, which could directly influence insurance premiums. Insurance companies offer discounts for customers who opt into a usage-based insurance program linked to your car. Every state except California currently allows the use of telematics data for insurance rating.

• Limited Control: Drivers have very little control over what data is collected, and for many, the car acts as a "data-harvesting machine". 

Front-facing and backup cameras, they’re cameras! Do you really want to live with nanny-state speed delimiters and lane departure assist measuring your odometer?!? WTF! Wouldn’t want to break any rules.

AI licence-plate readers at every intersection and drones are not imagined by the paranoid. They really are following you! Analog always beats digital—you don’t need all that shiny stuff. Carmakers will charge you subscriptions and governments will tax you on it.

Time to jailbreak your car! I didn’t ask for this <deleted>, I don’t trust it, and I don’t want it.

Mozilla research:

https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/categories/cars/

It’s Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy

What Data Does My Car Collect About Me and Where Does It Go?

After Researching Cars and Privacy, Here’s What Keeps Us up at Night

I firmly support government monitoring of driving habits, as it is a vital step toward creating safer streets and significantly reducing road-related fatalities. Such measures have the potential to protect lives and foster a culture of responsible driving. Why would anyone oppose initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety?

4 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Did I mention EVs???

No, why didn't you ?

I'm sure the tracking by Cadillac in 1996 was an expensive option on an already expensive car not

'every run of the mill car ' as it is now for all EV's.

On 2/17/2026 at 7:40 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Big Brother is watching you everywhere

I'm OK, as long as Big Brother doesn't tell the Mrs

She'll find out soon enough even without big brother 😋

32 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

Why would anyone oppose initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety?

For the same reason that we don't want 'big brother' watching over any other part of our life ?

do you want the government mandated toilet cam exam along with mandated specimen sample taken to see if you have cancer, drank too much alcohol last night. eat the wrong food, smoked some cannabis or a whole raft of other things they could test for ..for your own 'safety' of course.

Any way it is not about public safety,kids safety or any safety it is about control...you will do as they say or there will be consequences it's dystopian and despotic and is almost a reality.

1 hour ago, nick supreme said:

I firmly support government monitoring of driving habits, as it is a vital step toward creating safer streets and significantly reducing road-related fatalities. Such measures have the potential to protect lives and foster a culture of responsible driving. Why would anyone oppose initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety?

Yeah, I would. That's what cops are for. I believe in personal privacy. Get rid of speed & traffic light cameras.

Just because you've got nothing to hide, why should we see our privacy eroded bit-by-bit.

BTW, my friend restored the VW van he lost his virginity in! Campers are awesome. When I sold mine, the only thing the young couple who bought it wanted to try out was the bed! Didn't even take it for a drive!

On 2/17/2026 at 4:44 PM, BritManToo said:

Doesn't really worry me as I don't do anything that interesting. And I only have government minimum insurance.

Nobody has actually been able to tell me how watching me, actually harms me in any way.

It’s not that you think it doesn’t harm you. But it might have unforeseen negative effects in the future. Especially with all this AI.

Plus, if you have already paid a lot of money for a car, why should the manufacturer make even more off your back? Especially with not even offering a cut.

On 2/17/2026 at 4:40 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Those bright navigation screens have eyes…and ears!

What "navigation screen?" None in my car. FYI - your Android or iPhone? They can all track you too. I'm definitely not worried about my car tracking me. If you are, consider wrapping yourself in aluminum foil. It will reflect the signals "they" are beaming at you.

There will be no tracking in my car ..it doesn't even have central locking, electric windows or an airbag !!!

😛

On 2/17/2026 at 6:30 PM, johng said:

'Tin foil hatters' will be proved right again , wait and see..just the other day 'Obama' admitted that there are aliens.... the original 'conspiracy theory' now mainstream news.

He said that, given the vastness of space, there were certain to be life forms out there somewhere. He then added there was no firm evidence that they had ever visited Earth.

This view corresponds with what the majority of scientists and rational people believe.

Luckily, Nissan doesn't sell a single vehicle I would want to buy.

I don't mind, likely no one is sitting 24/7 to check especially what I'm doing. And, if I need to do some hanky panky..., I could another mean of transport, but they – Big Brother's staff – might be able to track me anynway. So, I don't care...

On 2/17/2026 at 9:44 AM, BritManToo said:

Doesn't really worry me as I don't do anything that interesting. And I only have government minimum insurance.

Nobody has actually been able to tell me how watching me, actually harms me in any way.

I agree- especially boring if , like me, you are not doing anything naughty