1. Pervasive data collection in modern vehicles
Many commenters note that cars constantly harvest and transmit telemetry—location, speed, diagnostics, even microphone/audio data—to manufacturers, insurers, and third‑party brokers.
- “All European car manufacturers pull a crazy amount of telemetry data from your car… Either via permanent 4G/5G link or during service intervals.” – BlackRabbit1
- “Your mileage went from VW → telematics vendor → broker → carfax… the owner is the only one without the record.” – samsullivan
- “EU was about privacy… nowadays it did a complete U‑turn and legislates mandatory anti‑privacy union‑wide laws every year.” – Yizahi (listing Chat Control, eIDAS, ADDW, etc.)
2. Technical work‑arounds to stop the spying
Users discuss hardware‑level fixes—pulling fuses, disconnecting antennas, using 50 Ω terminators, or Faraday cages—as the only reliable way to prevent data leakage.
- “Pulling the telematics module fuse… is a much lighter touch.” – willis936
- “The most reliable way to permanently silence the cellular modem is to pull the relevant fuse.” – drnick1
- “Best to use a termination, to avoid the power… reflecting back into the output driver transistors.” – femto
- “You could wrap the comms in a Faraday cage.” – tomrod
3. Regulatory and legal landscape (or lack thereof)
The thread contrasts weak U.S. state laws (CCPA, proposed CA bills) with increasingly invasive EU legislation, highlighting a gap between privacy rhetoric and actual enforcement.
- “You can invoke CCPA… to get a report of and/or delete your data.” – derwiki
- “The CA assembly has passed AB‑1542… making the sale and sharing of ‘sensitive’ personal information illegal.” – jboggan
- “EU… legislates mandatory anti‑privacy union‑wide laws every year… Chat Control law, now all messaging must be intercepted and monitored.” – Yizahi
4. Convenience vs. privacy: consumer behavior and the appeal of older cars
Many acknowledge that most drivers choose convenience (remote start, OTA updates, infotainment) over privacy, while a minority prefer older, “dumb” vehicles to avoid surveillance altogether.
- “When given the choice between privacy and convenience, the great majority of consumers choose convenience over and over again.” – pnw
- “Another reason to use a car from 90's or 2000's… they won’t burn oil like a modern car + more durable and repairable metal parts.” – everyone
- “I really wanted a modern car because of the fancy automation stuff… but it never is economical or more environmental friendly.” – herbst
- “I’d rather have my data hoarded by a crazy right‑winger Elon, than by Stellantis or VW… being sold to each other.” – Yizahi
These four themes capture the core of the discussion: ubiquitous vehicle data collection, the technical means to thwart it, the evolving (and often inadequate) legal framework, and the tension between convenience‑driven adoption and privacy‑conscious resistance.