GoKawiilStudy finds connected cars share data widely with trackers, Big Tech
Researchers from Northeastern University and Consumer Reports tested 21 cars from 19 brands, monitoring network traffic while parked, idling, and driving. They found most vehicles sent data to advertising, tracking, and analytics domains, as well as to companies like Microsoft and Adobe, with companion smartphone apps often increasing the amount of data shared. The Tesla Model 3 was the most extreme case, contacting 34 advertising and tracking domains plus 37 more from integrated apps, while the Buick Envista and Mercedes-Benz EQS reportedly contacted no outside domains beyond their manufacturer.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The findings suggest that despite growing public awareness of automotive data collection since Mozilla's 2023 report calling cars the worst product category for privacy, manufacturers have made little practical change in how much data their vehicles transmit to third parties. Because the researchers could not decrypt the actual contents of the data packets, the exact nature of what's being collected remains unclear, which could complicate regulatory or consumer response. The wide variance between brands—from near-silence to dozens of tracking domains—may give consumers and regulators a clearer basis for comparing manufacturers' privacy practices going forward.
- Northeastern University and Consumer Reports tested 21 cars from 19 brands for network traffic patterns.
- Companion smartphone apps significantly increase the volume of third-party data sharing from connected cars.
- Tesla's Model 3 contacted the most tracking and advertising domains, while Buick and Mercedes-Benz models contacted none beyond their own manufacturer.
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See OBDeleven Car Diagnostic Tool on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “Connected car data privacy is still abysmal, study finds”
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