agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Auto Brands Score Abysmally on Consumer Privacy

Mozilla says all 25 it researched appear more focused on sharing, selling information than keeping it secure.

September 7, 2023
Auto Brands Score Abysmally on Consumer Privacy

Just two reviewed brands give consumers the right to delete their personal data.

IMAGE: Pexels/Erik McIean

2 min to read


Mozilla, the foundation behind the Mozilla Firefox web browser, says cars are the worst product when it comes to consumers’ privacy.

In a review of 25 auto brands, it gave all 25 its “Privacy Not Included” warning label, “making cars the official worst category of products for privacy that we have ever reviewed.”

Ad Loading...

Mozilla declare cars “terrible” at handling consumers’ personal information, saying they collect too much personal data, that most of them share or sell that data and give consumers little to no control over its use, and that it couldn’t learn whether any brand meets its minimum security standards.

“It’s so strange to us that dating apps and sex toys publish more detailed security information than cars,” it said in its report.

Mozilla said all the brands it researched use consumer data for things other than the car’s operation or their relationships with drivers. That’s all the more relevant because it says automakers have many more chances to collect such data than do other “smart” devices.

Collected data can include things that have nothing to do with driving, such as medical information and how fast the consumer drives, and automakers can even infer things about the driver, such as intelligence and interests, Mozilla said. The data, including personal information, can be sold to service providers, data brokers and others.

Just two brands give consumers the right to delete their personal data.

Ad Loading...

Mozilla said it couldn’t determine if any brands’ models encrypt personal data, which is its minimum standard, and that it gave 68% of them its “bad track record” for data breaches that compromised consumer privacy.

DIG DEEPER: Right-to-Repair Law Can Be Enforced

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Industry

Two white men's shaking hands
Industry•October 15, 2026

Penske Auto Group Deal a Record

The deal to take the dealership and transportation services company private sets a new pace for industry buy-sell transactions.

Read More →
Rows of cars parked in exterior lot
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 8, 2026

War Toll a Damper on Used Auto Prices

Cox Automotive found wholesale depreciation to be elevated in September amid high fuel prices and this year's unusual hurricane season.

Read More →
Mechanic cleaning interior of engine
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 8, 2026

Bridge the Maintenance Gap

With many drivers missing recommended maintenance, service departments offering transparency and efficiency have a better chance of reaching financially strained consumers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Ford F-150 truck rounding a curve
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 1, 2026

California Store Has New Owner

The longtime dealership in the northern part of the state is known for robust fleet sales and has served the state capital for 115 years.

Read More →
crane lowering a pipeline into the ground
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 1, 2026

BMW Plant Pursues Cleaner Energy

BMW Group Plant Leipzig has utilized hydrogen to help power its production since 2013, but a new pipeline is planned to take it to another level.

Read More →
Two dodge cars outside of dealership.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 17, 2026

Auto Affordability Inches Up

The latest Cox Automotive and Moody’s Analytics index shows a slight increase in new-vehicle affordability despite high prices.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Five men smiling for photo in front of Honda car dealership.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 10, 2026

Ohio Auto Group Under New Ownership

After 79 years with the Schluter family, Mansfield Auto Group has been acquired by Missouri-based Clement Auto Group.

Read More →
Blue and white RV parked on beach facing the ocean.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 3, 2026

RV Group Expands Carolina Footprint

Blue Compass RV Columbia Northeast is the 13th RV dealership owned by Blue Compass in the Carolinas.

Read More →
Photo of two men and one woman on a discussion panel
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 1, 2026

Agent Acumen

An Agent Summit panel of people who’ve been supporting auto dealers for years gave both timely and timeless advice for those starting out or mulling the prospect.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Gloved hand holding two wrenches next to “Turn Overdue into Opportunity” Graphic
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•August 27, 2026

Missed Maintenance Creates Opportunity

As families get back on the road and into daily school routines, service drives have an opportunity to capture customers who are behind on recommended vehicle maintenance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...