Q Toon: We Are Driven

Many of us have become inured to the realization that our Internet of Things — from Alexa to our Rings to our phones and refrigerators and microwave ovens — are constantly spying on us. The Mozilla Foundation recently reminded us that one of the worst busy-bodies in most of our lives is parked right in our garage.

In a report headlined "It's Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy," they reveal that whatever you thought your car was up to, it's worse than you think.

We reviewed 25 car brands in our research and we handed out 25 “dings” for how those companies collect and use data and personal information. That’s right: every car brand we looked at collects more personal data than necessary and uses that information for a reason other than to operate your vehicle and manage their relationship with you. For context, 63% of the mental health apps (another product category that stinks at privacy) we reviewed this year received this “ding.” ...

It’s bad enough for the behemoth corporations that own the car brands to have all that personal information in their possession, to use for their own research, marketing, or the ultra-vague “business purposes.” But then, most (84%) of the car brands we researched say they can share your personal data — with service providers, data brokers, and other businesses we know little or nothing about. Worse, nineteen (76%) say they can sell your personal data.

A surprising number (56%) also say they can share your information with the government or law enforcement in response to a “request.” Not a high bar court order, but something as easy as an “informal request.” ...

Nissan earned its second-to-last spot [second to Tesla] for collecting some of the creepiest categories of data we have ever seen. It’s worth reading the review in full, but you should know it includes your “sexual activity.” Not to be out done, Kia also mentions they can collect information about your “sex life” in their privacy policy. Oh, and six car companies say they can collect your “genetic information” or “genetic characteristics.” Yes, reading car privacy policies is a scary endeavor.

Of course, you can always check out your car company's 3,000-page, single-spaced, no margin, 4-point type in light beige font advanced legalese consumer agreement in search of its privacy policies. But keep reading in order to find out what necessary functions you're probably giving up (like maybe, reverse gear) if you don't agree to the whole thing.

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As you can tell from this week's cartoon, I was not one of those schoolboys who spent his time in class sketching cars in his notebook. I could have at least colored some shadows and highlights on these cars, but I decided not to.

In hindsight, however, I think that the guy in the fourth panel ought to have been driving a convertible with the top down.