This is very much in line with the industry trying desperately to get into the tech recurring revenue model.
> the manufacturer collects information including sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic data, though there’s no details about how exactly that data is gathered
How is that even possible? Without more details about what this means and how it's done, this sounds a bit fishy to me.
> Mozilla said it was unable to determine whether the brands encrypt any of the data they collect
Given the auto industry's track record at security, I'm gonna go ahead and assume they _all_ store all that in a 2005-era non updated mysql database protected by root/password exported nightly as a clear-text csv file to an open network folder. And since they all do it they can call it an industry standard.
> Berg said the MercedesMe Connect app gives users privacy settings and the ability to opt-out of certain services.
Given that these folks try to sell you everything in the car you already bought as a service, that's a nice way of saying "if you're concerned about us collecting stool sample while using rated seats, you can use your car as a decorative piece in your garage if you want,l".
Yesterday, you visited a dating site a bunch. Today, you drove to a house that wasn’t yours and the passenger side door opened. Then you drove to a restaurant and the passenger side door opened again. Then you drove back to the house you don’t live at and the car was there overnight.
> Without more details about what this means and how it's done
The article seems to be based on a review of the privacy policies rather than sniffing actual collected data. We can conclude the policy leaves openings for them to do it, but it may not in fact be done at this time.
> collects information including sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic data
> Sources for collection: Direct contact with users and Nissan employees.
Also:
> by occupying a vehicle that is utilizing such services you agree to Nissan collecting and using the information
> You promise to educate and inform all users and occupants of your Vehicle
Interesting Note: I think this implies if you are a Uber / Lyft / ect... customer you consent to Nissan collecting your sex activity and genetic information and all related secondary analyses by occupying the vehicle.
> How is that even possible? Without more details about what this means and how it's done, this sounds a bit fishy to me.
Did you visit some explicit site without VPN (or at least a private tab)? Bingo. The data brokers will correlate you. Once your data can be correlated, whatever they gather is thrown into the pool. I'll bet that there's some back-scratching going on somewhere. Hey we know all about where John is at when he's driving, and we'll sell/give you that data and in exchange we'd like to buy/trade some ads on those other sites-of-interest he/she goes to.
When it comes to privacy data handling, the term "collecting" is a very specific term that means they are directly collecting it from you, so, unless they use the term in a non standard way, that means they supposedly collect your genetic material and sexual preferences _from you_. Which, erk, but also, how?
Sexual preference and genetic material are very different from sexual activity and genetic data. These privacy polices are always very broad (not saying this is a good thing). The multitude of microphones in cars can easily accidentally (or purposefully) record sex acts. A camera to detect driver awareness (for auto cruise or sleep alarms) can detect your eye color, which could be construed as genetic data. Idk if airbags deploy based on weight on seats (i.e. less powerful for smaller people), but weight data is health data.
I'm not so pessimistic that I think the Toyota techs are swabbing your car and sending it over to 23andMe.
Plus we know that the likes of Tesla and Ring/Amazon have no qualms about having a good laugh watching your camera footage until they get caught with their pants down (perhaps literally in some cases).
> the manufacturer collects information including sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic data, though there’s no details about how exactly that data is gathered
How is that even possible? Without more details about what this means and how it's done, this sounds a bit fishy to me.
> Mozilla said it was unable to determine whether the brands encrypt any of the data they collect
Given the auto industry's track record at security, I'm gonna go ahead and assume they _all_ store all that in a 2005-era non updated mysql database protected by root/password exported nightly as a clear-text csv file to an open network folder. And since they all do it they can call it an industry standard.
> Berg said the MercedesMe Connect app gives users privacy settings and the ability to opt-out of certain services.
Given that these folks try to sell you everything in the car you already bought as a service, that's a nice way of saying "if you're concerned about us collecting stool sample while using rated seats, you can use your car as a decorative piece in your garage if you want,l".