The phone is not the only device that knows your movements. The car you drive may also be accumulating information about your habits, your trips, and even some personal aspects that you probably never imagined sharing with the manufacturer.
Read also: The new Toyota RAV4 could recover traditional controls
The reason is the amount of technology that current vehicles incorporate. Cameras, microphones, sensors, navigation systems and connected assistants allow recording everything from a usual route to certain interactions that occur inside the vehicle.
You can read: Here are the best pick-ups for contractors of 2026
An investigation by the Mozilla Foundation focused precisely on that problem. The analysis reviewed the privacy policies of 25 brands and none received a positive rating. All received the “Privacy Not Included” label, while Mozilla described the cars as “the worst official category of privacy products we've ever reviewed.”
The issue is not limited to knowing which station the driver listened to or what his most recent destination was. Some manufacturers contemplate the collection of information related to health, biological characteristics, behavior and even intimate aspects of their users' lives.
GPS, cameras and sensors that leave a mark
Every interaction with a connected vehicle can generate information. A voice command, the use of a touch screen, a route entered in the navigator or certain movements behind the wheel are part of the enormous amount of data that the vehicle's electronic systems can produce.
The sensors can also analyze the driver. Depending on the technology installed, cameras can observe the position of the head and eyes to identify signs of fatigue. Other systems may record information related to heart rate or different biometric characteristics.
Driving history can also be revealing. Braking, acceleration, seat belt use and other habits can be recorded along with information such as age or gender.
Even entertainment preferences come into this equation. The music a person listens to and the places they usually visit using GPS can build a fairly detailed profile of their routines.
Information can end up outside the car
One of the most delicate points of the study is related to what happens after the data is collected. According to Mozilla, 84% of the brands analyzed share personal information with service providers, data brokers and other companies.
76% also admit the possibility of selling personal data to third parties. This means that the information generated while driving can have a much broader range than the owner imagines.
Mozilla pointed out Nissan as the most worrying case in its analysis. The company's privacy policy includes information related to health, genetics and sexual activity, as well as characteristics, behaviors and other personal tendencies.
Other manufacturers are also mentioned. Volkswagen collects certain driving habits and relates them to personal data for targeted advertising. Kia includes information about the “sex life” of users and Mercedes-Benz markets vehicles with TikTok pre-installed in its infotainment system.
Security also does not offer clear answers
The problem does not end with the amount of information collected. Mozilla also tried to learn what measures manufacturers use to protect that data and found it difficult to get answers.
The organization indicated that it could not determine whether the brands analyzed encrypt personal information stored inside the vehicles. When he asked for explanations about basic security aspects, many of the manufacturers did not respond.
Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Ford offered some type of response, but, according to Mozilla, they also did not fully resolve the questions related to data protection.
For drivers, this leaves an uncomfortable situation. A connected vehicle can offer convenience and useful functions, but it also creates a huge amount of digital information that must be protected.
How to reduce your data exposure
Owners do not have to sit idly by. Reviewing the privacy options of the infotainment system and applications linked to the vehicle is a good first step. It is advisable to limit permissions that are not necessary to use certain functions.
It is also advisable to disable connections that are not being used and keep the car's software and related applications updated. Updates may incorporate important fixes to prevent vulnerabilities.
Before selling a vehicle, it is important to perform a factory reset and delete linked accounts. If it is a rented car, it is advisable to disconnect the phone after finishing use and delete any personal information that has been stored.
It is also worth asking the workshop to delete personal data when the vehicle is handed over for maintenance. A simple system reset does not necessarily delete all information.
The trend indicates that this situation will be even more relevant. McKinsey estimates that 95% of vehicles sold worldwide will be connected by 2030. The convenience of having an increasingly intelligent car will then have an inevitable counterpart, knowing exactly what information we are providing and who may end up using it.
