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by drnick1 110 days ago
> US now requires cars to report data, which was optional before (e.g. onstar) and china joined on this since the ev boom.

This isn't true, there is no federal requirement for a cellular modem in cars. Most modern cars have one, but nothing prevents you from disabling or removing it. I certainly would not tolerate such a "bug" in by car.

> In the US every store tracks and report to ad networks your Bluetooth ids.

This also isn't true, modern phones randomize Bluetooth identifiers. I personally disable Bluetooth completely.
1 comments
iririririr 110 days ago
read the connected vehicle laws. the intent was to forbid Chinese components. the actual effect is that even allowing to connect your phone will require full certification, at which point the manufacturer is financially motivated to not offer options without the telemetry they can sell to equifax et al (just like happened with smart tvs). So, yes, in practice all US cars will have radios, unless you specifically order a custom model.

and yeah, your phone gives all the deniability and randon ids, etc. but if you allow apps to access location it's game over. also, just go see that google sells one option where you pay by people who saw you ad physically entered a store. (ps: sadly, I implemented the DSP side of this)

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drnick1 110 days ago
> even allowing to connect your phone will require full certification

I am not sure I understand this.

I am aware that manufacturers benefit from spying on people through car telemetry, or else they would not shoulder the cost of providing a cell plan. But, I, the owner of the vehicle, have every right to literally cut the cord (or simply unplug and remove the cellular modem).

> and yeah, your phone gives all the deniability and randon ids, etc. but if you allow apps to access location it's game over.

I don't. I run GrapheneOS (fully degoogled), and the only apps allowed to access location services are OSMand and a self-hosted Home Assistant instance. Of course that does not change the fact that millions of other people are being spied on.

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iririririr 98 days ago
ah yes, cutting wires in your car electronics. of course! how didn't i include that so common practice in my thinking. absolutely everyone does it all the time.
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