Modern vehicles are packed with so much technology they are being likened to a smartphone on wheels, tracking everything from routes taken on maps to voice recognition commands, and even data from connecting a phone via Bluetooth.
Data Collection Without Consent
Connected cars have made driving easier and safer, but they are collecting more data than ever, and most drivers do not know where that information is going. "I was singing a song the other day and then all of a sudden it started asking me questions," a driver revealed.
"It learns where you go, where you live, where your kids go to school, what you care about," Griffith University's Dr David Tuffley said.
National Security Warnings
This issue has prompted a national security warning to politicians, as people may be able to obtain that information. The concern is particularly acute with Chinese-built vehicles, which now account for a third of new car sales in Australia.
There are sensors littered throughout new BYDs, with cameras to ensure drivers are watching the road and voice command listening for hands-free control. Chinese-built vehicles are of particular concern, experts say, because of where they were made. Laws in China give their government ultimate control over data collection.
Expert Advice and Risks
"Really get across the car's privacy settings and what information is actually being shared," 7NEWS tech expert Shaun White said. While the US is preparing to outlaw certain internet-connected cars due to surveillance fears, valuable data from Australian drivers can be stored offshore, sold, or even hacked by cyber criminals.
BYD did not respond to questions about their data collection practices.
