I wanted to get others’ takes but it seems like the only real way to get a non-spying car is to get an older car without any sort of telemetrics. I saw a video about different car companies’ security policies, well specifically the new Mental Outlaw video, and it just blew me away how even our cars aren’t safe. Anyone got tips for how to anonymize their car?

  • deranger@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    2 months ago

    Even if you pull the fuse for the modem or install a dummy load in place of the antenna, there’s a license plate on the outside and cameras are always watching. Driving isn’t ever private.

    Law enforcement use of ALPRs is rapidly expanding, with tens of thousands of readers in use throughout the United States; one survey indicates that in 2016 and 2017 alone, 173 law enforcement agencies collectively scanned 2.5 billion license plates. According to the latest available numbers from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, 93 percent of police departments in cities with populations of 1 million or more use their own ALPR systems, some of which can scan nearly 2,000 license plates per minute.

    https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendations

    • FiveMacs@lemmy.ca
      0·
      2 months ago

      Your license plate is public, not private. Heck it’s not even yours, just like a driver’s license. The government is essentially loaning it to you which gives you permission to drive, same with the plates.

      • deranger@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        2 months ago

        The point I was trying to make is driving a car is inherently not private due to license plates. Of course license plate readers can’t get information directly from the ECU, but thinking you’re going to be driving privately because you don’t have a modem in your car is naive, IMO. Car privacy is shit even if you disable the modem, which I wasn’t recommending against. Of course you should disable it. It’s still a very public activity you’re doing that’s likely being tracked by license plate readers.

        • rhymepurple@lemmy.mlEnglish
          0·
          2 months ago

          Really not sure why you got down voted so hard and it’s a shame your comment was deleted. Your comment was relevant, accurate, and focused on an issue that others aren’t talking about in here (and apparently don’t want to). You were also the only person in this thread who provided any sources.

          I’m not sure what argument can be made against what you said. Just because a piece of information “is public” doesn’t mean everyone wants that public information collected and shared with little (if any) control/input by you. If that were the case, doxxing wouldn’t be an issue.

    • kbal@fedia.io
      0·
      2 months ago

      Yes, banning mass surveillance systems including ALPR is a good idea too. In the mean time, go ahead and take care of the problems that are your own responsibility. Disable the modem, and don’t buy a car that has one unless you’re sure you can do that.