Revealed: Is your car collecting and sharing your information?
- Replies 11
The dawn of smart technology has seen a significant rise in connectivity and convenience in people’s daily lives.
It’s a world where cars, much like phones, have become a hub of personal data collection.
However, in an era where data privacy is a growing concern, the latest findings from consumer advocate group CHOICE may have Toyota owners feeling a little uneasy.
The group's investigation has revealed that the 'Connected Services' feature, a smart technology built into new Toyota cars, is collecting personal data and potentially sharing it with third parties, including insurance companies.
Toyota acknowledged that the feature is a data communication module (DCM) that cannot be removed from the car without disabling Bluetooth and speaker functionality and voiding the vehicle warranty.
The feature ‘collects information such as vehicle location, driving data, fuel levels, and even phone numbers and email addresses’.
'Car companies say these technology features increase driver safety, but in a world of data hacks and sharing, it's just another way for companies to gather valuable information, whether consumers like it or not,' said Rafi Alam, CHOICE’s Senior Campaigns and Policy Adviser.
‘Concerningly, Toyota’s Connected Services policy says if you do not opt out, it will collect and use personal and vehicle data for research, product development and data analysis purposes,’ he said.
‘It may also share the data with third parties, such as debt collectors or insurance companies. Toyota says it needs consent to share your information in some cases, but Toyota’s policies are incredibly vague about what actually counts as “consent”.’
One Toyota customer, Matthew, claimed he only learned about the Connected Services feature a few months after buying his $68,000 Toyota HiLux when he began receiving emails asking him to register.
Uncomfortable with the feature, Matthew asked the dealership to remove the technology from his car, only to be told that this would void the warranty and risk his insurance.
He ultimately cancelled his order but claims the dealership is refusing to refund his $2,000 deposit.
Alam said problems in privacy are becoming a common concern with cars, ‘as just about every new vehicle seems to have a “smart” connection installed’.
He called on the federal government to introduce prohibitions on the collection and use of personal data as a matter of urgency.
'People shouldn't have to give up their privacy rights… to purchase a new car,' he said.
Meanwhile, a Toyota Australia spokesperson insisted that the company takes customer privacy 'extremely seriously'.
‘The standard process is to inform customers of the connected services feature as part of the sales contract, which includes information about connected services, and to ask them to sign confirmation they have been informed and agree to those services being activated,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Customers are free to opt out of these services at any time using a form available at any Toyota Dealer. Disconnection occurs by disabling the DCM SIM card. On request, Toyota dealers can facilitate disconnection.’
However, if a customer chooses to physically remove the DCM with a third party, they 'do so at their own risk'.
The issue of data privacy in connected cars is not limited to Toyota. As more and more vehicles become ‘smart’, the amount of data being collected and potentially shared is increasing.
This raises important questions about who owns this data, how it is used, and how it is protected.
As consumers, it's important to be aware of these issues and to make informed decisions about the technology people use.
If you're considering buying a new car, be sure to ask about its data collection and sharing policies.
And if you're uncomfortable with the amount of data being collected, consider opting out of these services or choosing a car without these features.
What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you had any experiences or issues with 'smart' car features that you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s a world where cars, much like phones, have become a hub of personal data collection.
However, in an era where data privacy is a growing concern, the latest findings from consumer advocate group CHOICE may have Toyota owners feeling a little uneasy.
The group's investigation has revealed that the 'Connected Services' feature, a smart technology built into new Toyota cars, is collecting personal data and potentially sharing it with third parties, including insurance companies.
Toyota acknowledged that the feature is a data communication module (DCM) that cannot be removed from the car without disabling Bluetooth and speaker functionality and voiding the vehicle warranty.
CHOICE said Toyota ‘will collect and use personal and vehicle data for research’ if owners do not opt out of Toyota’s Connected Services policy. Image: Toyota Australia
The feature ‘collects information such as vehicle location, driving data, fuel levels, and even phone numbers and email addresses’.
'Car companies say these technology features increase driver safety, but in a world of data hacks and sharing, it's just another way for companies to gather valuable information, whether consumers like it or not,' said Rafi Alam, CHOICE’s Senior Campaigns and Policy Adviser.
‘Concerningly, Toyota’s Connected Services policy says if you do not opt out, it will collect and use personal and vehicle data for research, product development and data analysis purposes,’ he said.
‘It may also share the data with third parties, such as debt collectors or insurance companies. Toyota says it needs consent to share your information in some cases, but Toyota’s policies are incredibly vague about what actually counts as “consent”.’
One Toyota customer, Matthew, claimed he only learned about the Connected Services feature a few months after buying his $68,000 Toyota HiLux when he began receiving emails asking him to register.
Uncomfortable with the feature, Matthew asked the dealership to remove the technology from his car, only to be told that this would void the warranty and risk his insurance.
He ultimately cancelled his order but claims the dealership is refusing to refund his $2,000 deposit.
Alam said problems in privacy are becoming a common concern with cars, ‘as just about every new vehicle seems to have a “smart” connection installed’.
He called on the federal government to introduce prohibitions on the collection and use of personal data as a matter of urgency.
'People shouldn't have to give up their privacy rights… to purchase a new car,' he said.
Meanwhile, a Toyota Australia spokesperson insisted that the company takes customer privacy 'extremely seriously'.
‘The standard process is to inform customers of the connected services feature as part of the sales contract, which includes information about connected services, and to ask them to sign confirmation they have been informed and agree to those services being activated,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Customers are free to opt out of these services at any time using a form available at any Toyota Dealer. Disconnection occurs by disabling the DCM SIM card. On request, Toyota dealers can facilitate disconnection.’
However, if a customer chooses to physically remove the DCM with a third party, they 'do so at their own risk'.
The issue of data privacy in connected cars is not limited to Toyota. As more and more vehicles become ‘smart’, the amount of data being collected and potentially shared is increasing.
This raises important questions about who owns this data, how it is used, and how it is protected.
As consumers, it's important to be aware of these issues and to make informed decisions about the technology people use.
If you're considering buying a new car, be sure to ask about its data collection and sharing policies.
And if you're uncomfortable with the amount of data being collected, consider opting out of these services or choosing a car without these features.
What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you had any experiences or issues with 'smart' car features that you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
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I've got more important things to worry about.
