https://www.techdirt.com/2023/12/07/senator-markey-sends-automakers-a-letter-criticizing-their-nonexistent-privacy-standards/ [ ] Techdirt. [ ] * Sign In * Register * Preferences Techdirt [ ] * TechDirt * GreenHouse * Free Speech * Error 402 * Deals * Jobs * Support Techdirt [podcast-ti] Colorado Becomes 2nd State To Strike 'Excited Delirium' From The Law Enforcement Vernacular Indian Court Orders Reuters To Take Down Investigative Report Regarding A 'Hack-For-Hire' Company Senator Markey Sends Automakers A Letter Criticizing Their Nonexistent Privacy Standards [privacy] Privacy from the what-if-we-passed-a-privacy-law dept Thu, Dec 7th 2023 05:30am - Karl Bode Back in September Mozilla released a scathing report showing how modern vehicles are a privacy shitshow. After studying vehicle systems for over 600 hours, researchers found that most cars hoover up vast swaths of sensitive location and other information on consumers, then, like most companies, sell access to that data to pretty much any nitwit with a nickel. The problem is particularly severe if you routinely attach your phone to your vehicle via Bluetooth, something that required an entirely different report showcasing how automakers also recklessly collect data from your mobile device and monetize it. Often without getting permission. And often with zero transparency as to security and encryption standards. Mozilla's report got the attention of Senator Ed Markey, who this week penned a letter to the auto industry asking for more details: "These practices are unacceptable. Although certain data collection and sharing practices may have real benefits, consumers should not be subject to a massive data collection apparatus, with any disclosures hidden in pages-long privacy policies filled with legalese. Cars should not--and cannot--become yet another venue where privacy takes a backseat." The data collected stems from location data (down to the meter), to even biometric data collected on drivers (pulse rate, breathing patterns). As with everything else you now do online, that data is then "anonymized" (a useless term) and sold to a rotating crop of barely regulated data brokers, who in turn merge this data with other datasets to build vast profiles on every consumer alive. The potential for abuse is obvious in the post-Roe authoritarian dipshit era, yet Congress still hasn't managed to pass even a baseline privacy law or regulate data brokers. In part because of lobbyist-induced apathy, but also because the U.S. government has grown fat and comfortable buying this kind of data to bypass warrants . Whether Congress will do more than chirp after Markey receives the data he's looking for (he gave automakers until December 21 to answer numerous questions about their data collection practices) is unclear, but if history's any indication this probably ends with zero substantive reform whatsoever. It's not clear what kind of scandal will be required for Congress to shake off its legislative, lobbyist-induced apathy (aka corruption) on privacy, but it's clearly going to require the kind of massive scandal that makes the ugly problems we've seen so far look like child's play by comparison. Filed Under: automakers, carmakers, cars, consumer rights, ed markey, mozilla, privacy, security 6 CommentsLeave a Comment If you liked this post, you may also be interested in... * Carmakers Push Forward With Plans To Make Basic Features Subscription Services, Despite Widespread Backlash * Decentralization Matters: But Why? * Our Ongoing Refusal To Regulate Data Brokers Is Going To Bite Us On The Ass * Republicans Want To Block Broadband Funding To Schools That Refuse To Implement Easily Bypassed TikTok Bans * Italy Wants To Save Its Children, Too * * * * * * Rate this comment as insightful Rate this comment as funny You have rated this comment as insightful You have rated this comment as funny Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam You have flagged this comment The first word has already been claimed The last word has already been claimed Lightbulb icon Laughing icon Flag icon Lightbulb icon Laughing icon Comments on "Senator Markey Sends Automakers A Letter Criticizing Their Nonexistent Privacy Standards" Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment * Filter comments in by Time * Filter comments as Threaded * Filter only comments rated Insightful * Filter only comments rated funny LOL * Filter only comments that are Unread 6 Comments Collapse all replies [ca024a51c3]Anonymous Coward says: December 7, 2023 at 7:07 am death of the world! the real question should be... do we trust government with our data any more? government has let big corps. in to do all it's law making and then just sits on the sideline collecting fat checks! it is no longer a police state! it is no longer a surveillance state! it has become a "control" state! with the elite crowning themselves king and government(s) there royal servants! every one else are the peasants to be required to obey master! Collapse replies (1) Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word Threaded [2] [user-default]Ethin Probst (profile) says: December 7, 2023 at 7:41 am Re: There is a form of government for this. It's best known as a corporatocracy Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word [47a31fe5ce]Anonymous Coward says: December 7, 2023 at 8:52 am We desperately need privacy legislation that gives owners control over what data is collected in the first place, which of that data is transmitted to other parties such as the manufacturer, what data those other parties store, and what data from other parties is further transferred. Collapse replies (2) Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word Threaded [2] [09d1069482]Anonymous Coward says: December 7, 2023 at 10:01 am Re: One thing you can do: don't connect your cell phone to your infotainment center in the car. Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word Threaded [2] [u2515_100x0-1]ECA (profile) says: December 7, 2023 at 10:15 am Re: Promises? https://www.aclu.org/documents/ privacy-america-social-security-numbers#:~:text= Use%20caution%20when%20giving%20out,your%20SSN%20to%20private%20organizations . https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02232#:~:text= Anyone%20can%20refuse%20to%20disclose,a%20federal%20or%20state%20law. They changed something.. "Anyone can refuse to disclose his or her number, but the requester can refuse its services if you do not give it. Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone's number and use it for any purpose that does not violate a federal or state law." If an identifier has been given to you by any source, That Source Can be asked/demanded to Supply a copy of All info to the point in time of the request. AND a translator/meaning of said data, and WHO has copies of Any of your data. The Problem with this, is WE HAVE NO PROTECTION. Your SS# WAS protected, and no one could demand it for any purpose except taxes, work, Bank. Now I cant find that clause. Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word [e291e7a533]Anonymous Coward says: December 7, 2023 at 9:12 am Maybe if the auto makers were forced to get a data subscription from the customer ... lol Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word --------------------------------------------------------------------- says: Add Your Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here Name [ ] Email [ ] [ ]Subscribe to the Techdirt Daily newsletter URL [ ] Subject [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Comment * [ ] Comment Options: (*)Use markdown. 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