Your Car Knows More Than You Think: How Smart Vehicles Track Your Every Move

On a Saturday morning, you head to the hardware store. Your neighbors’ Ring cameras film your walk to the car. Your car’s sensors, cameras and microphones record your speed, how you drive, where you’re going, who’s with you, what you say, and biological metrics such as facial expression, weight and heart rate. Your car may also collect text messages and contacts from your connected smartphone.

This scenario reflects a growing reality: modern vehicles are collecting extensive personal data through onboard systems, raising significant privacy concerns. As cars become more connected, they function as computers on wheels, gathering detailed information about driving behavior and personal habits.

Data Collection Practices in Modern Vehicles

Vehicles today collect a wide range of data, including acceleration patterns, braking intensity, cornering speed, route destinations, passenger presence, vocal interactions, and biometric indicators like facial expressions and heart rate. Connected smartphones can further contribute text messages and contact lists to the vehicle’s data trove.

Industry-Wide Data Sharing Concerns

Investigations reveal that nearly every automaker selling cars in the United States collects and shares driver behavior data with third parties. This data often ends up with multiple companies and can influence insurance premiums and auto loan terms offered to consumers online.

Regulatory Actions and Ongoing Practices

In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission penalized General Motors for allegedly collecting and selling customer driving data through its Smart Driver program without proper knowledge or permission. The FTC ordered GM to refrain from selling driver data to consumer reporting agencies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion for five years. Despite this action, data collection and sharing practices continue across the automotive industry.

Privacy Implications and Consumer Awareness

Many drivers remain unaware that their vehicles are amassing detailed personal data, let alone where that information is sent or how it is used. The Mozilla Foundation has identified cars as the worst product category for privacy, highlighting the extent of surveillance enabled by modern automotive technology.

Steps to Limit Data Collection

Consumers can take measures to reduce data sharing, such as reviewing privacy settings in vehicle infotainment systems, limiting smartphone app permissions, and opting out of data collection programs where available. However, the effectiveness of these steps varies by manufacturer and model, and some data collection may occur regardless of user preferences.

Broader Context of Surveillance Technology

Vehicle data collection is part of a larger trend in which everyday devices and applications contribute to mass surveillance ecosystems. The integration of AI, data brokers, and connected technologies enables the aggregation and analysis of personal information from multiple sources, including home security systems like Ring cameras and automotive sensors.

As vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, the balance between technological convenience and personal privacy remains a critical issue for consumers, regulators, and industry stakeholders. Ongoing scrutiny and regulatory oversight are essential to address the expanding scope of automotive data practices.