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"Cars represent freedom. Automakers have preached and marketed that philosophy for more than a century, ensuring the automobile became indispensable to the American identity. However, over the last several years, these same companies have begun to undermine that gospel. They are pursuing new revenue streams and maximizing shareholder value in terrifying ways, turning their expensive products into essential parts of the growing panopticon, forcing people to purchase a piece of the police state that could be used against them at any moment.
And no one loves a snitch.
Over a year ago, The New York Times reported that some automakers were sharing their customers' driving data with insurance companies, leading to higher premiums for some who didn't even know their information was being collected and sold. One driver got his report back from the data broker LexisNexis, which included alarming details about his driving behavior.
It captured the dates and times of 640 trips, the distances he drove, instances of speeding, and incidents of hard braking or accelerating. "
The story continues at the link. Mine has a sat link for navigation and assumedly Sirius. What other data is being sent and sold? How about the stop I made today in rush hour traffic that activated the ABS?
Any expectation of privacy evaporates as soon as you step outside your front door.
and that’s why the tech companies are continuously trying to get inside with permission. As the story goes, when you invite in Dracula, you should expect to get bit. Fun fact- if you commit a crime inside with window shades closed and someone comes and peeks in a crack, you have the expectation of privacy, and if the shades are up and someone sees through the window, you have no right to expectation.
op, since your car is a 2013, you don’t have much to worry about. Make sure there’s no modules like a low jack from prior owner financing. I believe it was 2015 when cars started being mandated with the “black box” so to speak.
now, if you have your phone in your pocket while driving….a whole new bags of worms.
Last edited by Baltistyle; May 13, 2025 at 09:20 AM.
and that’s why the tech companies are continuously trying to get inside with permission. As the story goes, when you invite in Dracula, you should expect to get bit. Fun fact- if you commit a crime inside with window shades closed and someone comes and peeks in a crack, you have the expectation of privacy, and if the shades are up and someone sees through the window, you have no right to expectation.
op, since your car is a 2013, you don’t have much to worry about. Make sure there’s no modules like a lojack from prior owner financing. I believe it was 2015 when cars started being mandated with the “black box” so to speak.
now, if you have your phone in your pocket while driving….a whole new bags of worms.
And it's established that law enforcement can collect evidence, including DNA, from your curbside trash container without a warrant. It's getting tougher to be a legitimate crook. (lol)
And it's established that law enforcement can collect evidence, including DNA, from your curbside trash container without a warrant. It's getting tougher to be a legitimate crook. (lol)
as a cannabis industry veteran, I actually know someone who went to federal prison because they found a seed in a vacuum cleaner bag (circa 2002) after a government informant named Brian Rubin, who owns a hydroponic shop, turned him in…. The willingness of certain persons to involve themselves in others lives is incomprehensible to normal people that believe in the actual constitution.
I look forward to the day all vehicles can be remotely disabled upon law enforcement request.
This is why when I get cars (three of my current cars) the telemetrics is REMOVED from the cars (it is next to the rearview mirror). Sure, my car based GPS does not work, I never use it to begin with. Sure, they can track my phone...but, I do not have to bring my phone with me to pick up my meth and illegal labor members.
Shame that even when LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN disable a car (their own) they wait for three innocent people to be killed needlessly. Your car or my car? Shuttem down baby!
now, if you have your phone in your pocket while driving….a whole new bags of worms.
Its a brave new world. Some of us are old enough to remember a different world but our memories are dimming with time. Recently my phone has started scolding me on a weekly schedule. It claims to know how much I've used it while driving. The problem is that some 18 year old kid writes the code based on his life experience and then we are left to assume the code is right. None of us really understand the entirety of what is happening under the hoods of our electronic devices. Unfortunately "electronic devices" now includes our vehicles. I remember CP/M fondly.
"Cars represent freedom. Automakers have preached and marketed that philosophy for more than a century, ensuring the automobile became indispensable to the American identity. However, over the last several years, these same companies have begun to undermine that gospel. They are pursuing new revenue streams and maximizing shareholder value in terrifying ways, turning their expensive products into essential parts of the growing panopticon, forcing people to purchase a piece of the police state that could be used against them at any moment.
And no one loves a snitch.
Over a year ago, The New York Times reported that some automakers were sharing their customers' driving data with insurance companies, leading to higher premiums for some who didn't even know their information was being collected and sold. One driver got his report back from the data broker LexisNexis, which included alarming details about his driving behavior.
It captured the dates and times of 640 trips, the distances he drove, instances of speeding, and incidents of hard braking or accelerating. "
The story continues at the link. Mine has a sat link for navigation and assumedly Sirius. What other data is being sent and sold? How about the stop I made today in rush hour traffic that activated the ABS?
Satellite radio is a one way communication. You're not broadcasting back up. These cars are too old to have much in the way of data sharing, as someone else already noted the 3g modem is no longer functional. They do record data locally, but I doubt anything is being shared over the air.
This is why when I get cars (three of my current cars) the telemetrics is REMOVED from the cars (it is next to the rearview mirror). Sure, my car based GPS does not work, I never use it to begin with. Sure, they can track my phone...but, I do not have to bring my phone with me to pick up my meth and illegal labor members.
Shame that even when LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN disable a car (their own) they wait for three innocent people to be killed needlessly. Your car or my car? Shuttem down baby!
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
