Your New Car Could Be Spying on You (Selling Your Personal Data)

Summary

This video discusses the alarming reality of car companies collecting sensitive driver data, including location and even sexual activity, to deny warranty claims or sell to insurance companies, leading to increased premiums. The script highlights a case where a woman's insurance bills soared after her car sent data to the automaker. It also references a Mozilla Foundation report showing 25 major car brands failing privacy standards, with companies like Nissan sharing personal data with third parties. The video raises concerns about transparency, consumer rights, and the potential misuse of collected data.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Car companies are collecting sensitive data such as location, acceleration, facial expressions, and even sexual activity.
• 🔒 This data collection is used to deny warranty claims or to sell to insurance companies, potentially raising premiums.
• 🌐 A Henry County woman's insurance bills increased drastically after her car's data was shared with insurance companies.
• 🔥 A Toyota Corolla owner's warranty claim was denied due to data showing he had driven over 85 mph, unrelated to a car fire.
• 📈 A 2023 review by Mozilla Foundation found that 25 major car brands failed to meet consumer privacy standards.
• 📊 Brands like BMW, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, and Kia were collecting personal data including health information and genetic data.
• 🏢 Nissan was highlighted as the worst offender, collecting sensitive data and potentially sharing it with third parties.
• 📉 The New York Times reported that companies like GM, Honda, and Subaru were selling driver data to insurance companies.
• 📈 Data sold includes driving habits which can lead to increased insurance premiums without the driver's knowledge.
• 🚨 There's a lack of transparency and consumer rights are being questioned, with calls for more robust privacy protections.

Q & A

What kind of data are car companies collecting from drivers?

Car companies are collecting a wide range of data including location, acceleration, speed, facial expressions, sexual activity, and even genetic information.

Why are car companies collecting this data?

Car companies collect data to deny warranty claims or to sell it to insurance companies, which can then use it to raise premiums.

What happened to the Henry County woman mentioned in the script?

The Henry County woman's insurance bills increased significantly after her car collected and shared data with insurance companies.

What was the incident with Brian and his 2023 Toyota Corolla?

Brian's 2023 Toyota Corolla caught fire while he was driving. Toyota denied his warranty claim based on data showing he had driven over 85 mph at some point, despite the fire being unrelated to his speed.

What did the Mozilla Foundation's review of car brands' privacy standards reveal?

The review revealed that all 25 major car brands failed to meet consumer privacy standards, with some collecting highly sensitive personal data.

Which car brand was named the worst offender in the Mozilla Foundation's report?

Nissan was named the worst offender for collecting data on sexual activity, health diagnosis, and genetic data.

How does the data collection affect insurance premiums?

Data collected can be sold to insurance companies, which may use it to raise premiums based on driving habits such as speeding or harsh braking.

What was the New York Times' investigation into car companies selling driver data reveal?

The investigation revealed that car companies like General Motors, Honda, and others were selling driver data to insurance companies, potentially affecting insurance rates.

What is the role of data brokers like Lexus Nexus and V risk in this scenario?

Data brokers like Lexus Nexus and V risk purchase raw data from car companies, analyze it, and then sell it to insurance companies, impacting insurance premiums.

What are the potential benefits of driver data collection mentioned in the script?

Potential benefits include faster emergency response times and predictive maintenance.

What is the stance of the script on the balance between data collection for safety and potential privacy violations?

The script suggests that while data collection can have benefits, it raises significant privacy concerns and questions about transparency and consumer rights.