The Ford Privacy Promise: You're in Control of Your Data

bell-cot

I'll guess they timed the announcement, to contrast with GM paying out 9 figures for selling consumer data - https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/10/gm-to-pay-220-million-a... It'd be lovely if other automakers followed suit, but I wouldn't actually bet on Ford keeping its Promise.

Animats

If you follow the links, the first thing it tells you is "Download the app".[1] Vehicle Data Sharing appears to be opt-out, not opt-in. They do say "If you’d like to ensure you’re not sharing data, check Vehicle Connectivity in your Settings menu in-vehicle and toggle it off." After doing that, someone should check to see if the wireless modem is still emitting. [1] https://www.ford.com/data-and-privacy/manage-your-settings/c...

QDwQ1

Personally I would like a car that simply does not generate any "data" in the first place.

basilikum

These fuckers don't even allow anonymous access from Tor to this very site where they claim to honor your privacy.

midtake

All I can read from that title is double-speak about how it's your responsibility to opt out, your problem if you don't.

Luke2642

"Your data is safe with us." No, our data is barely even safe with ourselves. It's definitely not safe with anyone else!

xnx

Don't let Ford PR crowd out the primary message that they collect and sell your data.

SamInTheShell

Easiest way to control your data is to pull the telemetry unit out of of your car and never take the car to the dealership. This isn't easy, but it's worth it.

calvinmorrison

Why is there even data

kmeisthax

I fully expect a Louis Rossmann video by tomorrow detailing every privacy fuck-up Ford has done in the last 3 months and how this promise is really just a promise to take away ownership in the name of protection.

advisedwang

I really have one big question about connected vehicle privacy: do you provide the data to insurance companies? This website is opaque enough that I can't even find the answer to that question. What a joke to be celebrating your privacy principles when that isn't even answerable.

ChiMan

I don’t want a privacy policy. I want my data, and I don’t want them to have it.

lacoolj

You know who really needs to do this? BMW. First thing it told me when I was setting up the customization area was something around ...if you enable BMW account sync, this car will transmit all audio, video and any other data recorded to BMW for its use blah blah... Ugh

Terr_

OK, so what's the punishment if they do it anyway? What's their skin in the game beyond and oopsie-apology?