1y ago

US judge rules: if you can't prove damages, car-makers can continue to intercept and record customers' mobile phone activity.

therecord.media Court rules automakers can record and intercept owner text messages

A Seattle-based appellate judge ruled that the practice does not meet the threshold for an illegal privacy violation under state law, handing a big win to automakers Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and General Motors.

You're viewing a single thread.

121 comments

It can't be illegal because you agree to allow them when you purchase the new vehicle. It's all there in the T&C and PP, which no one ever reads. Don't like it? Don't buy new cars. I won't.
- So if I buy a used car they can’t do all that right?
  Right?
  
  Same privacy policy authorizing them to harvest your data, but older cars have a more limited capability to collect data compared to newer cars filled with sensors, cameras, and phone integrations. Plus older cellular networks are defunct for older vehicles so they can't just exfil it without you helping or bringing it in to physically access it.
  
  The issue is that this 20 year old car is not going to last forever or have replacement parts available forever. We need better privacy laws, because time and entropy will eventually force us all into this evil mess.
  
  Agreed! What would be amazing though, is a manufacturer who could make a modern safe bare-bones vehicle that didn't have the tech installed at all. If you want tech you could BYO.
  
  Yes, I drive so rarely I would honestly be happy with any crappy old stereo to save a few thousand bucks. I'm lucky my ~2015 car still has completely separate radio and functions (climate, errors, etc.)
  I would want to put in a good dashcam system though. Give me the bones; then let me DIY
- Illegal terms in T&C are still illegal regardless of whether you agreed to them or not in the US.
- You can get a car, just don't connect your phone to it.

121 comments