Slashdot Mirror
In China, Your Car Could Be Talking To the Government (apnews.com)
schwit1 shares a report: More than 200 manufacturers, including Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Mitsubishi and U.S.-listed electric vehicle start-up NIO, transmit position information and dozens of other data points to government-backed monitoring centers, The Associated Press has found. Generally, it happens without car owners' knowledge. The automakers say they are merely complying with local laws, which apply only to alternative energy vehicles. Chinese officials say the data is used for analytics to improve public safety, facilitate industrial development and infrastructure planning, and to prevent fraud in subsidy programs.
But other countries that are major markets for electronic vehicles -- the United States, Japan, across Europe -- do not collect this kind of real-time data. And critics say the information collected in China is beyond what is needed to meet the country's stated goals. It could be used not only to undermine foreign carmakers' competitive position, but also for surveillance -- particularly in China, where there are few protections on personal privacy. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has unleashed a war on dissent, marshalling big data and artificial intelligence to create a more perfect kind of policing, capable of predicting and eliminating perceived threats to the stability of the ruling Communist Party.
But other countries that are major markets for electronic vehicles -- the United States, Japan, across Europe -- do not collect this kind of real-time data. And critics say the information collected in China is beyond what is needed to meet the country's stated goals. It could be used not only to undermine foreign carmakers' competitive position, but also for surveillance -- particularly in China, where there are few protections on personal privacy. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has unleashed a war on dissent, marshalling big data and artificial intelligence to create a more perfect kind of policing, capable of predicting and eliminating perceived threats to the stability of the ruling Communist Party.
You think Tesla isn't collecting every aspect of your driving?
What happens when the government comes with a warrant? Is Tesla going to suddenly become an "activist" and fight the request on behalf of the user, for free? No, they'll turn that data right over, POST HASTE.
The Chinese pee in our fentenyl, the Colombians pee in our coke
It WILL be used not only to undermine foreign carmakers' competitive position, but also for surveillance
Fixed that for you.
Government Motors Corporation would never use the OnSpy service for such things. Real news says so and we can trust real news.
Heil Hitlary as mandated by the law!
Every day, Slashdot admins shocked to discover that China is a dictatorship.
A real one, not an "OMG, my political opponents won something so oh noes" one.
Could? Is.
Australia is not too far behind. Government want all manner of access to about everything. Random breath tests (breath and cannabis/meth) everywhere, data retention everywhere. Some states are worse than others. Probably the state with the least amount of aggro is Queensland. NSW, VIC, and WA are fairly strict. Gun ownership, for example, in QLD is fairly easy. The cops aren't quite as aggressive unless you are into drama or get caught drink driving. Gun owners in NSW have to jump through far too many hoops.
In USA, Your Card IS Talking To the Government: https://www.forbes.com/sites/t...
In reality, if your vehicle can be reporting on you, the only safe assumption is that it is doing so. It doesn't matter what country you live in, except that some countries may be more likely to abuse the information. Your automaker's EULA certainly gives them the right to sell that data to anyone they like. It might require a token attempt at anonymization, but we all know that can be reversed if you have enough data.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
The title of this bit is, er, a bit too long. Should say, "Your car is talking to the government." Full stop.
if it wants to report to big brother, it will need a phone line.
It's called messing with the competition. And yes, the cocaine-producing companies probably do adulterate fentenyl.
The only thing wrong with the original post was calling it a joke. The illicit drug market is big business, they don't joke around. When producers and distributors urinate in each other's products, it's for business reasons, not for lulz.
And we still wait for the GM Snitch model, I guess it's factory was closed as well.
... on oh wait nevermind, this is the 21st century. In Soviet-esque Planet Earth, car spy on YOU!
"...United States, Japan, across Europe -- do not collect this kind of real-time data."
It's kinda cute that you believe that.
signed: The NSA
Something something Soviet Russia!
... In any other place where the intelligence agencies have enough resources, your car could well be doing the same.
Even if your car doesnt talk your neighbors, the gas attendant, the toll booth operator, and your own personal watcher all report to their superiors.
TRADE WILL LIBERALIZE CHINA!
Remember the lies they told us. Remember who your politicians served.
Fentanyl is a wholely owned Chinese/CIA operation. Stop being a fucking pleb.
> But other countries that are major markets for electronic vehicles -- the United States, Japan, across Europe -- do not collect this kind of real-time data.
Sure they do.
ANPR. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Cell site locality/triangulation from the built-in-car phone.
And before anyone says 'real-time', with my aluminium foil hat correctly fitted, Snowdon showed that things are collected...
If you own a GM, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Toyota, Ford, or a few others, there is a very real chance your car is phoning home to the government as well.
The only thing separating China from the US is public perception and citizen apathy. And at the rate America is going that won't separate it for long.
If they keep up the good work, they may even be admitted into the world's biggest surveillance club, the five eyes.
On the other hand, my insurance company OBD dongle and my RFID toll pass can't keep their yaps shut.
Have gnu, will travel.
do not collect this kind of real-time data.
How else could you implement comprehensive taxation system for the road users for maintenance and pollution control purposes? I'm sure many countries have already "balled around" the concept, mine included. Every car is included in such a system, not just the electric or gas ones.
Having the gov collect data directly(China), or having corps collect it(USA), sell your soul for 5 bucks for adverts, and if the gov gets a warrant, give it to the gov for a fee. Maybe the companies in China sell your data too. In the end what matters is how the gov handles the data. If your car is stolen, you want the police to use the car's GPS tracking. If you are out buying drugs, then you'd rather they not. And I think we can all agree if you are at a peaceful protest, we'd prefer the gov and adverts not know. Take a cab and pay cash to it and leave the phone at home.
I wonder if my car talks to the Mazda dealer. I drove past the dealership going to another place, and when I got back home there was an email saying my car could be overdue for service. This isn't the first time. Am I paranoid?
It's only bad if China does it !!
My father was an insurance adjuster. He went all over the place.
He frequently had free time between meetings and used it to learn more about the cities he was in.
He also frequently looked for short cuts to the places he needed to go. This involved going through some bad neighborhoods.
This kind of tracking, looking for who was in that area at odd times, would pick him up.
Google maps has made more people take strange routes to places.
This it ripe for abuse.
Why were you hanging out with hookers and drug dealers?
So the government can turn on your OnStar to listen to your conversations when it wants to.
Add in AI to interpret your conversations and you can have the government listening to ALL in car conversations ALL the time.
Where is your right to privacy?
People who are willing to give up their freedom for security will lose both and deserve neither.
And the future...is going to be some kind of warped Black Mirror episode with Bryce Dallas Howard, where the government watches all you do, then shuts off your access to loans and whatnot if you don't kowtow and your communist social score drops too low.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
If you have a vehicle that has wireless connectivity, it is 100% certain that it's 'phoning home' to either the manufacturer or the government. Guaranteed. Even if, somehow, your car isn't, your gods-be-damned smartphone is reporting your position anyway. Hell, between the two, when you're driving, it's likely providing differential GPS to whoever is collecting the data on you, thus improving the accuracy practically down to mere centimeters.
Does this bother you? It should.
o Locate, disconnect, and dummy-load the wireless connectivity in your car
o Get rid of your smartphone, get a nice cheap dumbphone, and turn it off when you're not using it actively
Now you have some privacy at least.
"But Rick, I'm addicted to my smartphone! How will I check Facebook and Twitter every 5 minutes, or play Candy Crush, or watch movies? I have to be entertained every waking moment or I'll lose my mind!"
Please, humans, grow up already. Or at least read a book when you're bored.
"But Rick, how can I read an e-book without a smartphone or e-book reader?
A paper book, damnit..
At least a couple states are looking at requiring cars to have GPS reporting so they can tax you on miles driven to recoup lost "revenue" from lower gas sales.
In America the government talks to your car.
Scary stuff.