Modern Vehicles Harvest Personal Data as 95% of 2026 Smart Cars Send It to Manufacturers
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jun 2
Modern Vehicles Harvest Personal Data as 95% of 2026 Smart Cars Send It to Manufacturers
2 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jun 2
95% of smart cars reaching the market in 2026 are estimated to transmit personal data to manufacturers' servers, turning vehicles into major data-collection platforms.
GPS, infotainment systems, cameras, sensors, Bluetooth syncing and telematics can capture home and work locations, travel patterns, driving behavior, contacts, messages, biometrics and vehicle diagnostics.
That data can flow to automakers, insurers and data brokers; the FTC has warned manufacturers about unfair sharing practices, and Mozilla says many privacy policies use vague language to permit broad collection and sale.
Drivers can limit exposure by checking a model's privacy record, revoking dashboard and app permissions, reviewing terms, avoiding telemetry-based insurance programs and filing requests to access or delete stored data.
Privacy pressure is likely to intensify as U.S. rules will require all new vehicles sold by 2027 to include driver-monitoring sensors and cameras for impairment detection.
As cars become data-gathering machines, can drivers truly opt out, or is surveillance now a standard feature?
New safety mandates require more in-car cameras. How do we prevent this technology from becoming a tool for mass surveillance?
Are multi-million dollar fines enough to change carmakers' data practices, or is it just the cost of doing business?
Connected Cars, Exposed Drivers: The 2026 Landscape of Automotive Data Privacy and Regulation
Overview
Recent regulatory crackdowns highlight growing concerns over automotive data privacy. General Motors faced action in California for selling driver data without consent, leading to a $12.75 million settlement and new requirements to stop these practices. The California Attorney General emphasized that the data included sensitive location details, and the settlement reinforced the need for strict data minimization. At the federal level, the FTC also intervened, imposing long-term restrictions on GM’s data handling. These actions show a clear demand for accountability and stronger privacy protections as vehicles collect more personal information, urging companies to prioritize consumer safeguards.