Mozilla exposed this ‘privacy nightmare on wheels.’ Here’s what has happened since then:

Mozilla highlights the impact of their investigation on car companies' data privacy issues and appeals for donations to further their advocacy.

Since Mozilla’s investigation, car companies have been under immense pressure – from consumers, lawmakers, journalists, and our movement. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

June 12, 2024 8:39 AM

mozilla@eml.mozilla.org

Mozilla exposed this ‘privacy nightmare on wheels.’ Here’s what has happened since then:

Mozilla highlights the impact of their investigation on car companies' data privacy issues and appeals for donations to further their advocacy.

<html lang="en"><head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1"><meta content="IE=edge"><meta name="color-scheme" content="light dark"><meta name="supported-color-schemes" content="light dark"><style type="text/css">  </style><style type="text/css">  </style><style type="text/css">  </style><style type="text/css">  </style><style type="text/css">  </style><style type="text/css">  </style></head><body class="body" style="padding-top:0!important; padding-bottom:0!important; padding-right:0!important; padding-left:0!important; margin-top:0!important; margin-bottom:0!important; margin-right:0!important; margin-left:0!important; text-align:center; height:100%!important; width:100%!important"><div itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Organization"><meta itemprop="logo" content="https://assets.mofoprod.net/network/images/Mozilla-48x48.original.png"></div><div style="display:none">Since Mozilla’s investigation, car companies have been under immense pressure – from consumers, lawmakers, journalists, and our movement. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏   </div><table class="body" align="center" aria-label="Email from Mozilla" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" lang="en" role="article" style="width:100%; 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font-weight:300; text-decoration:underline"><img alt="Mozilla" class="lightimage" name="Logo" src="http://i1.cmail19.com/ei/y/57/D44/CDB/224947/csimport/moz-logo-bw-rgb158original_0.png" title="Mozilla " width="158" style="border-width:0px; border-style:none; max-width:158px; height:auto; display:block; text-align:left; font-size:36px; line-height:100%; outline-style:none; text-decoration:none"> </a><div align="center" class="dark-img" style="display:none; overflow:hidden; float:left; width:0px; max-height:0px; max-width:0px; line-height:0px; visibility:hidden"><a href="#" name="Dark_Logo_Top" style="color:#0D10BF; font-weight:300; text-decoration:underline"><img alt="❤️ Mozilla ❤️" class="darkimage" name="Logo Darkmode" src="http://i2.cmail19.com/ei/y/57/D44/CDB/224947/csimport/moz-logo-reverse-rgb-298original_1.png" title="❤️ Mozilla ❤️" width="158" style="border-width:0; border-style:none; max-width:158px; height:auto; display:block; text-align:left; line-height:100%; outline-style:none; text-decoration:none"></a></div></td><td align="right" style=""><div><a href="#" name="Donate_Top" style="font-size:16px; font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; padding-top:8px; padding-bottom:8px; padding-right:25px; padding-left:25px; color:#000000; display:inline-block; border-width:2px; border-style:solid; border-color:#000000"><span style="">Donate </span></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" width="100%" style=""><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" class="darkmode" valign="top" style="padding-top:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-right:15px; padding-left:15px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="darkmode w100p" role="presentation" width="640" style="width:640px; max-width:640px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="w100p" style=""><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style=""><tbody><tr><td class="" style="font-size:1px; line-height:40px"> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="font-size:24px; font-weight:normal; margin:0px 0px 24px 0px; font-family:'Zilla Slab',Georgia,sans-serif; line-height:1.2; text-align:Left; vertical-align:Top; color:#000000">Hello,</h2><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal"><strong>Last year, Mozilla made it official – car companies are the worst category of products we have *ever* reviewed for privacy.</strong> Our research exposed how car companies use a web of in-car sensors, microphones, cameras, apps and other internet connected devices to make a full profile of your life… and then predictably, some companies even sell this information for profit.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">Since this investigation, car companies have been under immense pressure – from consumers, lawmakers, journalists, and our movement. Here’s a quick summary of what we’ve achieved so far:</p><ul class="mobile-list" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 20px; font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left"><li style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left">The <strong>U.S. Federal Trade Commission has released a firm warning to car companies</strong>, saying they will take action against any illegal collection, use or disclosure of personal information.</li><li style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left">The U.S. Government has announced <strong>an inquiry into connected cars’ privacy</strong>, due to national security concerns.</li><li style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left">Toyota and Lexus now grant all U.S. consumers the <strong>right to delete their personal data</strong>.</li><li style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left">European Union lawmakers have used Mozilla’s research to flag the lack of privacy protections for drivers in the European Commission on three occasions.</li><li style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left">One European Union lawmaker has called for new laws to prevent cars from being used to spy on drivers – and again, cited our research.</li><li style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#000000; text-align:Left">The Privacy Commissioner in Australia opened an inquiry saying Australia's privacy laws aren't equipped to deal with what cars do.</li></ul><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style=""><tbody><tr><td class="" style="font-size:1px; line-height:24px"> </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">These victories show our movement’s ability to have an impact, and they were made possible by generous donations from people who want to hold companies accountable for their data practices. If you’re ready to protect people’s privacy and hold irresponsible companies accountable, we hope you’ll consider adding a donation today.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal"><a href="#" style="text-decoration:underline; color:#0D10BF"><strong>Can you make a $10 USD donation to Mozilla today? Your contribution will support the next phase of this important campaign to end the horrible data collection and privacy practices of car companies and hold irresponsible companies accountable.</strong></a></p><div align="center"><a href="#" style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; background-color:#2CC98E; border-width:2px; border-style:solid; border-color:#2CC98E; text-decoration:none; padding-top:8px; padding-bottom:8px; padding-right:30px; padding-left:30px; color:#ffffff; display:inline-block; font-size:16px; margin-top:5px; margin-bottom:5px"><span class="gmail-screen" style=""><span class="gmail-difference" style=""><span style=""><strong>Donate $10 USD → </strong></span></span></span></a></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style=""><tbody><tr><td class="" style="font-size:1px; line-height:24px"> </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal"><strong>There’s still much more change that needs to happen in order to stop car companies from unethically collecting, sharing, and selling your data.</strong> The burden shouldn’t be on consumers to read a complex 9,461-word privacy policy, and then recite that policy to anyone who opens their cars’ doors. Nor should the burden be on consumers to make “better choices,” when all 25 car brands Mozilla researched earned our <em>*Privacy Not Included</em> warning label.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">Mozilla’s research exposed the invasive data practices of car companies – and since then, lawmakers and regulators have started to take this issue seriously. Car companies have made important, but incremental changes to their data privacy policies. Media outlets, including the <em>New York Times</em>, have published major news pieces about this issue.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">Momentum towards securing sweeping and permanent changes to the way that car companies treat our personal data has started, but we’re not there yet.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">What we still need is greater awareness to encourage more of us to hold car companies accountable for their terrible privacy practices. We need serious investigations into the ways that car companies are handing over our personal data for profit and to law enforcement without a warrant. And we need to use the strength of our movement to rein in these car companies – for good.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">But winning these changes will require keeping up the pressure through long-term advocacy efforts, which is sustained by grassroots donations from people like you.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal"><a href="#" style="text-decoration:underline; color:#0D10BF"><strong>Will you consider making a $10 USD donation to support this global movement to secure privacy rights for everyone, everywhere? Together we can achieve sweeping and permanent changes to how car companies treat our personal data.</strong></a></p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 24px 0px; font-weight:normal">Thank you for all you’ve done to advance this campaign, and all you do for the internet.</p><p style="font-family:'Nunito Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:24px; color:#000000; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; padding-right:0; padding-left:0; margin:0 0px 0px 0px; font-weight:normal"><strong>Michael Whitney</strong> <br>Director, Digital Engagement <br>Mozilla</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style=""><tbody><tr><td class="" style="font-size:1px; line-height:24px"> </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="#" style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; background-color:#2CC98E; 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