Car Is a Smartphone on Wheels. Here's Who's Listening

Researchers analyzed data transmission from 21 connected vehicles and 30 companion mobile apps, finding that vehicles and their apps send personal consumer data to manufacturers and undisclosed third parties with minimal consumer control or visibility. Once data leaves devices, companies can freely share or sell it without transparency, raising significant privacy concerns in the connected vehicle ecosystem. The study represents the first comprehensive examination of data flows between connected vehicles, their mobile apps, and various servers.