New research says most major automakers studied were broadly sharing connected-car customer data with outside companies, exposing drivers’ identities and movements to advertisers, analytics firms, and data brokers. Northeastern University and Consumer Reports found that 19 of 21 automakers collected and disseminated private data, and 28 of 30 companion apps sent data to third-party firms. The report says some apps, including General Motors brand apps plus Honda, Nissan, and Lincoln apps, shared vehicle identification numbers (VINs) together with location or email data, making driving patterns easier to tie to specific people.
Why it matters: This affects ordinary drivers, not just corporate victims: people may be unknowingly feeding detailed location and identity data into ad-tech and broker networks when they use connected-car features. Users should review app permissions and privacy settings, while regulators, automakers, and defenders should scrutinize how companion apps and embedded web trackers handle precise location and vehicle-linked data.
2026.09.30
100% relevant
This article establishes a distinct privacy story with new empirical findings about broad third-party sharing of connected-car data across many automakers, rather than a single breach, patch, or enforcement action already tracked.
← Back to all stories