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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYes—connected cars can function as surveillance platforms because their sensors, onboard systems, telematics, apps and paired devices can collect and transmit sensitive information. That does not mean every car records everything or that every automaker shares all data. What a particular vehicle collects, where it sends it and which controls are available depend on its make, model year, connected services, account settings and enrollment.
What makes a car a connected-data platform?
A connected vehicle combines onboard computers, sensors, cameras, software and external connections. Those systems can support navigation, emergency assistance, remote access, infotainment, internet connectivity and software updates. Data may concern the vehicle itself, its driver or occupants, the surrounding environment, or devices connected to it.
FTC staff identifies possible categories including biometric, telematic, geolocation, video and other personal information. The US Department of Commerce has also described connected vehicles as networks of computers, sensors, cameras, software and external connections, and discussed potential privacy, cybersecurity, national-security and public-safety implications. These sources describe capabilities and risks, not a universal inventory of what every vehicle records.
What information may be collected, and how can it travel?
| Data path | What it can involve | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle systems and sensors | Vehicle or driving information, location, and potentially information from cameras or other sensors, depending on the vehicle and feature. | Read the privacy notice for the exact model and year; look for named data types and the features that generate them. |
| Embedded telematics and connected services | Information transmitted for services such as emergency assistance, remote access, navigation or connectivity. Location and vehicle data may be involved. | Check which services are active, their enrollment requirements, and the in-car controls for connectivity and location. |
| Manufacturer apps and accounts | Information associated with a vehicle and its account, potentially including location. Ford says a Ford or Lincoln account associated with a vehicle can receive connected-vehicle information; deleting the app alone does not necessarily stop that sharing. | Review account settings and unlink or remove the vehicle where appropriate; do not treat app deletion as a substitute for changing account or vehicle settings. |
| Infotainment and paired devices | Information may pass between the vehicle and a connected phone or other device, depending on the system and feature. | Inspect infotainment privacy settings and remove personal devices and stored profiles when transferring or selling the car. |
The same data can matter differently depending on who receives it and why. A location record used to provide an opted-in service is not the same thing as one disclosed to another organization for a separate purpose. FTC staff warns that collecting, using and disclosing sensitive information can affect privacy and financial welfare.
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Why precise location and driving behavior deserve attention
Precise location can reveal where a vehicle travels and when. Driving-behavior data can describe events such as hard braking, speeding or late-night driving. When these details are associated with an account or shared with another organization, they can have consequences beyond the immediate vehicle service.
A concrete example is the Federal Trade Commission’s case involving General Motors and OnStar. In January 2025, the FTC alleged that Smart Driver enrollment did not clearly disclose the collection and sharing of precise geolocation and driving behavior—including hard braking, late-night driving and speeding—with consumer reporting agencies. The agency said those agencies used the information to compile consumer reports that insurers used in setting rates or denying insurance. These were allegations in the FTC’s 2025 announcement; they should not be read as a claim about every automaker or connected car.
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In that announcement, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said GM monitored and sold some people’s precise location and driving-behavior information “sometimes as often as every three seconds.” That figure describes the FTC’s statement about its GM allegations; it is not a general measurement of connected cars.
What the FTC’s GM/OnStar order requires
In January 2026, the FTC announced that it had finalized an order covering GM and OnStar. The order’s terms apply to those companies, not to automakers generally.
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- Five-year restriction: The order bars specified disclosures of geolocation and driving-behavior data to consumer reporting agencies for five years.
- Requirements over 20 years: During the order’s 20-year term, GM and OnStar must obtain affirmative express consent before collecting, using or sharing covered connected-vehicle data, subject to exceptions. The order also requires mechanisms for US consumers to request a copy of their data and seek its deletion, and an opt-out for geolocation and driving-behavior data, subject to exceptions.
- Location control: The companies must enable consumers to disable precise-geolocation collection where vehicle technology permits. The order includes limited exceptions, such as providing location to emergency first responders.
These are remedies in a specific FTC order. They do not establish that all manufacturers must offer the same controls or follow the same terms.
How to check a particular vehicle
Use the exact make, model year and connected services as your reference. A generic description of a brand’s privacy practices may not explain which features are available on your vehicle or which settings apply to your account.
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- Find the vehicle’s privacy notice. Search it for precise location, driving behavior, biometrics, video or audio, device information, and account-linked data. Note the stated purposes and recipients, such as service providers, insurers or consumer reporting agencies where named.
- Check both the car and the account. Review in-car privacy, location and connectivity menus, then inspect the manufacturer’s app and account settings. A change in one place may not disable a separate pathway.
- Use the owner’s manual for model-specific steps. Menu names and available controls vary. Ford, for example, directs owners to settings or the manual for feature- and model-dependent controls, and says a master/factory reset or connectivity reset can erase stored information.
- Review indicators only as described for your vehicle. Ford says certain model-year 2024 vehicles with Ford Digital Experience display a Wi-Fi/cellular indicator signaling potential transmission of vehicle or driving data. Ford also describes other icons related to data or location sharing for account-associated vehicles. These are Ford-specific descriptions, not universal dashboard indicators.
- Before selling or transferring the car, remove your data and access. Follow the manual’s master/factory reset or connectivity-reset instructions, remove the vehicle from associated accounts, and clear stored profiles and paired devices. The FTC has published consumer guidance reminding people to wipe car data before selling.
Ford’s notice is one manufacturer example, not a template for other brands. The available evidence does not establish a comprehensive, current privacy ranking of automakers or a universal way to disable telematics.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare vehicles before buying
Compare the disclosures and controls for the specific trims, model years and services you are considering—not just a brand’s general reputation. A VIN-based lookup can be a starting point: the Associated Press has described Privacy4Cars’ free Vehicle Privacy Report, which uses a vehicle’s VIN to summarize stated practices such as location collection and sharing with insurers, data brokers or law enforcement. It is a policy lookup, not an independent inspection of what a particular vehicle actually transmitted.
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- Data types: Does the notice name precise location, driving behavior, biometric, video or audio, device, or account information?
- Collection paths: Does information come from embedded telematics, connected services, an app or account, infotainment, or a paired phone?
- Recipients and purposes: Which recipients are named, and for what uses? Do not assume a company shares data with every type of recipient.
- Controls: Can you give or withhold consent, opt out, disable location, request access or deletion, unlink an account, or reset the system?
- Conditions: Do controls differ by model year, subscription, country or state, account association, or service enrollment?
A notice or lookup shows what a company says about its practices; it does not prove every real-world transmission. The sources available here do not provide an independent technical measurement of a particular vehicle’s network traffic.
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