Automotive
Connected vehicles transmit personal data to third parties, study finds
Jalopnik reports that research into connected cars and apps revealed widespread sharing of user details and vehicle identification numbers.
The short version
- A study by Northeastern University and Consumer Reports found that 21 tested connected vehicles and their companion apps transmitted data to major tech, media, and marketing companies.[Jalopnik]
- Multiple automakers shared vehicle identification numbers alongside sensitive user details such as locations, emails, or phone numbers.[Jalopnik]
- Honda asked its third-party app to delete received location data and updated its app, while other manufacturers noted that opting out of data sharing could disable critical car features or risk vehicle inoperability.[Jalopnik]
Key facts
- Northeastern University and Consumer Reports examined 21 connected vehicles from 19 brands across model years 2022 to 2025.[Jalopnik]
- Data was transmitted to tech and corporate entities including Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Spotify, X, Disney, and Nextdoor.[Jalopnik]
- Honda, Nissan, Lincoln, and General Motors brands shared VINs along with locations, phone numbers, or email addresses with third parties.[Jalopnik]
- Honda asked its third-party app vendor to delete collected location data and updated the app to prevent further collection.[Jalopnik]
- Tesla and Rivian warned that opting out of data collection could disable features like navigation and updates, or cause vehicle inoperability.[Jalopnik]
What remains uncertain
- Three manufacturers claimed their apps prompt users to accept or reject cookies, but researchers could not consistently reproduce these prompts.[Jalopnik]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.