Consumer Reports research reveals your car is sharing data with Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft. A new Northeastern University study, using Consumer Reports’ own vehicles, shows where some of that data is going, creating a detailed dossier about who you are.
The Technical Reality of Your Car’s Data Pipeline
Modern vehicles are data factories. A cybersecurity expert notes that newer cars record location, speed, braking force, and even copy phone contacts. This constant stream feeds a commercial market where brokers buy, bundle, and resell location and behavior records. A modern connected vehicle generates close to 25 gigabytes of data an hour, according to S&P Global Mobility. The technical reality is that this pipeline can move identifiable driver data to third parties, a fact underscored by a Federal Trade Commission settlement in 2025 that barred General Motors from sharing such data with consumer reporting agencies.
That GM settlement, for $220 million, stemmed from allegations that its Smart Driver program sold driver behavior data to LexisNexis, which then sent reports to insurance companies to adjust premiums or deny coverage. The New York Times revealed in 2024 that GM sent this data without consumer permission. The program, operated by subsidiary OnStar, was marketed as a way for drivers to monitor their own behavior. A particularly stark detail from the case was that the OnStar app told 380,000 drivers they were not enrolled in the data collection program, even though they were. Ohio, part of the 35-state coalition, will receive approximately $8 million from the settlement.
Who Receives Your Driving Data?
While the GM case focused on an insurance broker, the flow of data extends to the tech sector. The Northeastern University study identified Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft as recipients of data from connected cars. This information can be used to inform banks, insurance companies, and other corporate interests. The study found that this can create a really detailed dossier about who you are.
Automakers have offered varying responses. GM, Honda, Nissan, and Stellantis stated that some partners are barred from using or selling the data on their own. However, the research prompted at least one automaker to act; after seeing the findings, Honda told one vendor to delete location data it had received. This suggests the technical reality of data sharing is more complex than the privacy policies might suggest, and some companies are only prompted to act when confronted with specific evidence.
Consumer Controls and the Trade-Off
In the wake of the scrutiny, Ford announced a Privacy Promise, pledging never to sell customer driving data to brokers or insurers. The company said customers can opt out of sharing any connected data, though doing so disables features including its BlueCruise hands-free driving system, internet connectivity, and location tracking through the Ford app. Ford launched a website explaining what its vehicles collect and how to manage settings, controls it said have existed for years but were hard to find.
Before launching this promise, Ford surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers and found that 91% rated data privacy as highly important. This high level of concern is reflected in the advice from Consumer Reports: read before you tap “agree,” check your automaker’s website or connected app to opt out of data sharing or delete your data, and turn off location sharing in the app if you can. The advice comes with a practical warning, however. Opting out could mean losing certain connected features, and some automakers only accept opt-out requests from drivers in states with privacy laws.
Sources
- After GM's $220 Million Privacy Payout, Ford Promises Not To Sell Your Personal Data
- How smart devices, cars, apps & other technology track you & what you can do about it
- Ohio receiving $8 million in GM settlement over data privacy
- Ford Bans Vehicle Data Sales After Pentagon Warns Brokers Expose Troop Movements | SOFX
- Magna Outlines Path to Turn Enterprise Strength into Lasting Value at Investor Day
- Tech giants could be getting data from your car
Photo: 42-BRT (CC BY 4.0)
