I think you are both wrong. It is better labeled as Techno-Capitalism. The data is being collected so that it can be sold for profit.

 

"Software toggles often do not entirely stop data transmission, because a car's Telematics Control Unit (TCU or DCM) frequently operates as an independent piece of hardware with its own cellular modem, SIM card, and backup power.
While a software opt-out or app toggle limits the use or sale of your data, it rarely prevents the hardware from "phoning home". To permanently disable telematics, a physical hardware disconnection is usually required."

Power needs to be removed to ensure not communication to and from the TCU. Fuse removal (or switched) or unplug power at the TCU.

 

Data being collected and sold, so you can get spammed with sale offers is one thing, data being collected and sold, so they can charge you more on your insurance is quite another.

 

The issue with turning it off and back on again, is that when it's off, I can almost guarantee you it is collecting the data and saving it...then uploading it all at once once connected again. 2.5 years and my truck is still functioning perfectly with never having an update.

 

I agree but, regardless, it is still capitalism not feudalism or Marxism. The data is being collected so that some corporate entity can take more money from the consumer.

 

Nice to see less, if not zero, truth deniers in this thread so far. No one has been called out for their tinfoil hat yet! Progress....👍

 

Lol you guys have pretty much convinced me to keep my '17 STX. No telematics module in my truck.

 

I sold a mint 2013 FX4, 6.2 and now I have this Big Brother crap, lol.

 

I will not buy another new truck. This 2024 will be the last. Fortunately it has been flawless so far. Newer vehicles are infested with invasive monitoring equipment and I will not put up with it.

 

Incorrect. (sorry to derail thread). Profiting off your data is only a fraction of the problem.

The overarching problem is that you cannot "OWN" anything you purchase. And this started about the time when Blizzard started monthly subscriptions for World of Warcraft. When people realized that you could charge people indefinitely, monthly, for things other than just the phone bill and cable bill--it got crazy super quick. It has trickled down to cars being manufactured which cannot natively use navigation without you being subscribed to their proprietary service. Or with BMW having to pay a monthly fee for use of their heated seats. Supercruise being locked behind a paywall. There's even fees for unlocking quicker acceleration and better performance. These are all things that already have all of the sensors, equipment, programming and capability installed or baked into their systems. But you're getting subscription fees for it anyways. They could have bundled the feature as "free" for up to say 10 years. But that doesn't print money. The free trial is there to get you addicted/hooked, so they can siphon money from you for the "convenience" of "keeping" the functions that you want.

The reason Techno-Feudalism is the appropriate term, is because you are a serf in the land of modern technology. You must constantly pay tribute to your overlords--just to use the things that you paid full price for. It may be driven by capitalist greed; but the environment we exist in belongs to a feudal lord. In this case, some form of tech oligarch. It's the same reason why Right to Repair is also a 90/10 issue--but cannot get legislation to codify it into law. This, despite legions of farmers having issues with John Deere going full-bore into enforcing techno-feudalism.

I could wax poetic about why such is currently the case, due to legislation being crafted by people who were older than I--when the internet went "mainstream" around 1994. It's really hard to appreciate and legislate around the rapidly changing landscape of tech--when you still rely on your grandkids to program Tivo (or whatever it is these days).

p.s.
At least with "data" subsidizing the cost of large flat-panel TV's--one can still opt out. Never connect it to the internet, and only use HDMI feed from a PC of your own control. Cars offer no such alternatives.

 

I finally had to sell off my 2009 XL F-250... the V-10 isn't the only thing I miss.

 

I will never sell my 2013 F – 250 6.2 / 6r140 lariat FX with camper package.

 

And that data WILL be used against you in a court of law and given to your insurance company as they "buy" it from the manufacturers. Our local state police can plug into your under dash connector and download all the data from your different computers. Speed, braking action, throttle position, all of it. Typically there is no warrant needed especially if you are in an accident. So... the vehicle is doing a tattle tail on you, if you happen to mess up or if someone messes you up there it is. It is basically a flight data recorder. You can't turn that part off, only the telemetrics that ford wants you to send them. That is a choice. I had a lawyer say you can put a sticker on your connector that states "You must get a search warrant to access this data", but... the troopers know better. They wait till it hits the impound lot and get it anyway...

 

Sounds like the only way is via some hidden kill-switch that prevents the OBDII from communicating anything--without access being granted. If such a device doesn't already exist--it sounds like there's a market for it.

 

Cops will just take the vehicle to their mechanic, or to a Ford shop under supervision, and have the computer removed from the vehicle and downloaded that way. Remember, the government has endless funds and resources. If Barney Fife can't do it, the state police or local FBI field office can get it done.