FordPass is watching us?

[canuckgeek]

Given that the government is the biggest collection source, I doubt it will make headway. Remember when Snowden blew the whistle on all the data collection on US citizens by the US government? yeah, neither does anyone else...

They arn't any longer. The goverment is now buying your data from data brokers so they don't need a court order.

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[TJC]

5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes, etc., all bypass constitutional limits by spying on each other and then giving the data to the local government. The US has stations on foreign soil on all cable hub link nexus points and routes all data out the country and then back in so they can capture all the data real time. it is illegal onshore but perfectly legal overseas. This is just the tip of the data capture iceberg. The largest user of water and electricity in Utah is the US data center built there in 2015 and is ever expanding holding every email, phone call, etc, using the internet.

The Utah Data Center (UDC), also known as the Intelligence Community Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative Data Center is a data storage facility for the United States Intelligence Community that is designed to store data estimated to be on the order of exabytes or larger. Its purpose is to support the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), though its precise mission is classified. The National Security Agency (NSA) leads operations at the facility as the executive agent for the Director of National Intelligence. It is located at Camp Williams near Bluffdale, Utah, between Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake and was completed in May 2014 at a cost of $1.5 billion.

Critics believe that the data center has the capability to process "all forms of communication, including the complete contents of private emails, cell phone calls, and Internet searches, as well as all types of personal data trails—parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other digital 'pocket litter'." (i.e. - Blackmail City - aka J.Edgar Hoover on steroids)

Of course the 3 letter agencies deny all of the above and state "everything we do is perfectly legal."

That's why the US has a 99.9% prosecution success rate. Right up there with China and Russia. Only 320 of 79,704 total federal defendants – fewer than 1% – went to trial and won their cases, at least in the form of an acquittal, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Most of the accused took plea deals (whether guilty or not) and went straight to jail.

It is very easy to skirt the constitution and build cases when law enforcement gets the facts from these data centers, which can't be used in court, but does allow them to build convincing circumstantial cases.

Such is modern life in the freest country in the world.

 

[Sojourner]

Well said. Absolutely well said. Between the feds buying data and their 5-eyes type arrangements....

"Yeah, we skirt the laws, but we have the best of intentions.... And, oh, btw, if you've got nothing to hide...."

 

[KNI]

This evening's news reported that auto manufacturers are capturing owner/driver data and communicating it to the manufacturers, who then sell the data to insurance companies, DMV and law enforcement and resulting in higher insurance premiums. My own insurance rates (Progressive) went up, and I am a conservative driver. I researched it and predominantly it was General Motors that was mentioned, using OnStar to communicate the data. Then I found a link to the Bronco forum (link below) where it is discussed that FordPass also collects data. It's in the fine print of the Sync3 contract (your agreement to terms makes it valid) but also tells you how to opt out. Anybody know anything about FordPass collecting info? I suspect that it would have come in on one of the last few Sync3 upgrades.

Here is the link: FordPass is watching you! Reporting your speed, G-forces, etc. | 2021+ Ford Bronco Sport Forum - Broncosportforum.com

I don't give a shit. I remote start at 8:20, if it's cold I'll put the webasto on at 08:00. If Ford want's to monitor that, be my guest. What better, please do it automatically so I don't have to do it. And if you don't.. make that freaking remote start work quicker than 60 seconds.

 

[CB750F]

About 10 yrs ago I read an article where, I think it was GM Prez, said
something like 'if the consumer knew how much information we
have on them, they would not be happy'. So, yea, don't buy a
cell phone & only buy a '90s or older vehicle.
Good luck y'all.

 

[RedlandRanger]

If you are concerned about stuff like this, then you should definitely NOT have a smart phone. Smart phones are the best data collection devices ever created. We live in the age of Big Data. It is very difficult to avoid it.

 

[ccasanova22]

I once worked at a company where I was a manager and we drug tested our field employees. One failed a test due to testing positive for cocaine, and since our line of work was in utilities, one accident could be fatal for many. We fired him the next day.

I wonder if insurance companies now use this data to make up rates also?

If so, might as well have a “smart urinal” that checks all your pee every day to adjust your rates, it’s not too far fetched if they already use social media, driving habits, and the exterior of your house to “rate” you.

Guess I’ll be cleaning up my front, back, and side porches when my insurance is up for renewal, can’t have tools and paint cans and any dangerous things around, let alone a swimming pool, or your rates will go up.

 

[OrangeStreak]

My insurance app is just that, an app. No dongle. Damn thing can tell when I am driving and when I am a passenger.

Mine does the same and it has picked up several bike rides and recorded them as drives. Called the company and they were surprised. I have the option to choose "This was not a drive" on the app after a drive is recorded. I should probably disable the app when biking.

 

[MountainGoat]

If you are concerned about stuff like this, then you should definitely NOT have a smart phone. Smart phones are the best data collection devices ever created. We live in the age of Big Data. It is very difficult to avoid it.

Like @TLC said you have options. All it takes is buying a Linux phone or degoogled phone instead of android or Iphone, it's not hard. Garmin for navigation does not leak info so I'm told. I have a flip phone I bought, no identity or cc info needed and don't connect to wifi. Cost me $50 and $200 per year. It's not difficult.

 

[MountainGoat]

Oh and I just got my progressive insurance renewal. Went up another $50. I have a $2k deductible already and they keep raising it. I'm about to curse them out.

 

[TJC]

I still use Garmin in all my vehicles, Old school, but more accurate than any built in that I have used, and only one way communication. My units are older, but give real time updates on accidents, slow traffic and construction. And have lifetime annual map updates, and voice command. Much less expensive than the Auto manufacturers offerings and does not call home to "Momma".

I did install a Chinese Android unit(Lollipop - very old) in my 2005 Ranger years ago, but never use any of the communications features, all disabled. It is great for playing my music via USB port installed in the cigarette lighter. 256GB Samsung chip that barely protrudes hold my entire music collection. And it lets me play video with the car moving. Came with backup camera as well. All for $99. Worth every penny, and never spies on me. Navigation is good enough if you are not looking for a specific business. Addresses work great.

Garmin excels at keeping the business locations accurate, but I have run into problems a couple of times when businesses have recently moved to new locations.

The very best part is that the unit has all the features I want, and is completely isolated from the rest of the systems in the vehicle. It is old school standalone technology. it even has a knob to turn it in/off and raise lower volume, otherwise touchscreen. I had the same unit in my 2003 Maxima, but replaced the old radio when I gifted it to my nephew. I plan on putting that unit in my 92 Miata.

 

[Indy650]

Should come as a surprise to no one. Everything you do is being tracked, monitored, and sold. We'll likely never get back up that particuar slippery slope unless WWIII and the demise of everything electronic happens.

totally agree.

 

[Sojourner]

Oh and I just got my progressive insurance renewal. Went up another $50. I have a $2k deductible already and they keep raising it. I'm about to curse them out.

Remember, as I noted above, it's all in the definition of terms. They raised your rates; to them, that's Progressive!

I still use Garmin in all my vehicles, Old school, but more accurate than any built in that I have used, and only one way communication. My units are older, but give real time updates on accidents, slow traffic and construction. And have lifetime annual map updates, and voice command. Much less expensive than the Auto manufacturers offerings and does not call home to "Momma".

Same here. Older Nuvi 7-inch units in all my vehicles. Not thrilled with Garmin's newer units, though. IIRC correctly, now really tied into Google.

 

[WhyNot21]

I don't remember if this was an option before, or was added after an update. After all this talk about data collection, mainly pertaining to GM vehicles, I went through the settings. I see they have a setting that is exactly what is at issue here. It asks if you're willing to share your driving data, like acceleration and braking. Mine was disabled, which is how I left it. As for using Fordpass, I have no issue with that. I don't care that dealers know my vehicle's health, because it also allows me to check it remotely, along with a few other convenience features. As others have already stated, your cellphone collects more data than Ford. It's just the world we live in.

 

[OrangeStreak]

I still use Garmin in all my vehicles, Old school, but more accurate than any built in that I have used, and only one way communication. My units are older, but give real time updates on accidents, slow traffic and construction. And have lifetime annual map updates, and voice command. Much less expensive than the Auto manufacturers offerings and does not call home to "Momma".

I did install a Chinese Android unit(Lollipop - very old) in my 2005 Ranger years ago, but never use any of the communications features, all disabled. It is great for playing my music via USB port installed in the cigarette lighter. 256GB Samsung chip that barely protrudes hold my entire music collection. And it lets me play video with the car moving. Came with backup camera as well. All for $99. Worth every penny, and never spies on me. Navigation is good enough if you are not looking for a specific business. Addresses work great.

Garmin excels at keeping the business locations accurate, but I have run into problems a couple of times when businesses have recently moved to new locations.

The very best part is that the unit has all the features I want, and is completely isolated from the rest of the systems in the vehicle. It is old school standalone technology. it even has a knob to turn it in/off and raise lower volume, otherwise touchscreen. I had the same unit in my 2003 Maxima, but replaced the old radio when I gifted it to my nephew. I plan on putting that unit in my 92 Miata.

I prefer the Garmin too and have the phone as a backup if Garmin ever does glitch... I had a nuvi 52 and upgraded to a Drive 52 and especially like the safety advantage of a dash mounted device which minimalizes you from having to remove your eyes very far from the road.

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