2020 data transmittal

Indeed, this practice has become the norm, is egregious, and highly disturbing.

Let us continue the conversation then. Why let it die out? This subject is worthy of our consideration.
The devil sells convenience. Modern tech is great, to a point, but the negatives are obvious.

My Tacoma does not have the safety features which actively transmit data. Satellite radio is my only amenity and alongside that comes a GPS receiver hardwired to the head-unit, enabling the system to show local weather and traffic. I am unsure if the unit is capable of transmitting.

I will vote with my wallet on my next purchase and reject this spyware technology. My phone and computer are spyware enough for me; these devices are easily disabled. The vehicle? Not so much, barring hardware removal which has ancillary effects.

How the hell these people get off thinking they have the right to spy on us and sell or use that data for profit is beyond me. Everyone wants your data.
My data is my data. I generated it, I should own it and have rights to dictate what happens with it. Period, end of story.

Talk to people you know. Make them aware of what is occurring and what the accurate factual information is. Communicate with Toyota and public policy makers. If you aim the right words at the right people, you will have an impact. At the very least, people in positions of authority will get eyes on what you've said and trust me, though they may not respond, behind closed doors they are discussing the issues you presented.

 

I removed the 10A fuse. The DCM signal went gray. It also unregistered the Toyota APP on my phone.
I'm leasing, so we'll see how that goes.

 

He is 100% correct. You are tracked *constantly*. Satellites above you and camera's on the ground. This has been going on since the 70's and they can see a baby's footprint in the sand from 100 miles up.

I have personally seen this technology in action - and there is little anyone can do to avoid it - so disabling a bit of technology on your truck won't do squat to protect you - or your rights. However... the buying a 72 Chevy will not give them your cars data - but they can *still* track your car from a satellite over thousands of miles.

Not to scare the crap out of you - but honestly they are not interested in you or your life, or your car's data. What they want is the real bad people who plan on killing people by the millions - and tracking nuclear devices.

Want to REALLY be scared? Be scared of AI. Because once AI is in complete control - you will be screwed. It starts with the drones patrolling the neighborhood - then is followed up with robot police. It is only a matter of time... and I work in technology... I know this is coming...

 

Privacy is dead. If you're a Toyota owner ripping out modules from your truck, I'm sure it makes you feel better. But Toyota doesn't give a crap about you as an individual driver, nor does the government care about you as a citizen.

It's when your dumb ass does something to get on their radar that you become a subject of interest. And if you do get on someone's radar, go ahead and tear your truck down to the frame rails - they're still going to know everything that you're doing.

I'll keep my gadgets, and take the "ignorance is bliss" route. Besides, I'm military - the government owns my ass anyway.

 

Interesting thread. My 2016 has all the 3rd gen goodness without this connectedness, so I guess I’m lucky. But I recently bought a 2020 Ford which IS more connected, but I thought that I could opt out (and so I did) without even needing to make a call, let alone disabling a feature like the Bluetooth. But now I will read the fine print and see if that was correct.

 

Yup. They do...

Like my buddy the Chief Master Sargent says "GI means Government Issued - they *OWN* your ass..."

 

Not using the bluetooth mic?

Incorrect. I’ll post this yet again.

Again, this thread is strictly VEHICLE tech based discussion, not general tech.

 

Look let's be realistic about all of this. First a disclaimer- I am not a fan of this crap nor do I want it.

That said, think globally (not just about yourself). There is no way all this data can be used to track ALL people ALL the time. The data is stored for possible future use. If you do something to get on 'their' radar then it is used both retroactively and in current time. Just you tooling down the highway to your favorite fishing hole, hunting spot, movie theater, 4wd trail, store, mechanic, job, etc, etc, etc is NOT going to trigger anything with anyone. 'They' don't care about you and your daily life nor do 'they' have the capabilities or the time to even pretend to care about you sneaking off at 1am while your wife is asleep and driving 20 over the speed limit, committing 2 roll thru's on stop signs, getting to your mistress's house and committing adultery. Or whatever. There is simply too much incoming data to look at in real time.

Now if you signed up for some sort of an insurance program, well YOU signed up for that so it's on you. Can transmitted and stored data be used against you in an accident? Sure. But it can also be used to prove you were innocent and the other party is liable.

I guess my point is, this all sucks from a privacy stand point and I don't like it, but there's simply too much data for 'them' 'anyone' to track all folks in real time all the time. And it's NEVER going away. Likely will get more intrusive as time goes on.

 

I don't believe that they are using the information for "tracking" each individual. But they are definitely tracking every time you drive, how long you drive, how long you warm up your car, where you go. I'm sure they track speed and vibration to determine how you drive. They are compiling all this user data for their own product development. Also, I'm sure they sell the data. For example, how far do most people drive to the grocery store is useful info for someone looking to build a new grocery store. The question is if the data we are generating is so valuable, why do they get it to collect it for free? At least when Google takes my info, I get something in return (Gmail is pretty good).
Also, I do think there is a potential to use it against you. If you have a warranty problem, they can pull all the data and make a case that your trip to the fish hole was too far offroad to be covered under warranty. Maybe we aren't there yet, but we are trending in that direction.

 

You have a very valid point.

 

No idea, and do not care.
The mic gets it's connection via Bluetooth, and is a derivative of a Smartphone connection. I will not be having my Smartphone connected to the head unit at all.

The AM/FM works fine, I bought a Garmin, so I'm good.

 

Man, I’m getting old. I only listen to AM these days.

 

I listen to AM as well when there is a good station. We're in an area where we get bad signal so

 

OK, it's established that Toyota is collecting telemetry data about your vehicle. As far as tracking you and or using your personal information I called the Toyota 1-800 number and told the agent that I wanted to opt out of Toyota using any of my personal information for any purposes. The agent asked if I was subscribed to any connected services. I said no, none of them. He then told me that Toyota does not have any of my personal information because I never provided it for connected services subscriptions.

 

Did they explain with they are doing with this data or why they feel entitled to it?

 

No, he was just like, how can we track you if you don't give us any personal information? (thru connected services subscriptions). I can say that auto manufacturers get a wealth of valuable information from collecting operation and telemetry data on how their products are functioning. This allows them to improve their products, identify defects and build better vehicles. It also helps them identify how customers are using them so they can build products that closer fit customer needs so they can ultimately sell more vehicles. Why they feel entitled to it? Because the majority of customers do not complain about it being collected.

 

You gave them all your personal information when you bought the vehicle. Of course they have it all linked to your VIN which I have no doubt is linked to all the telemetry data. How else would they know who to send the biweekly XM letters to? Or all the "your warranty is expiring" letters, emails and phone calls?

 

There are plenty of buyers who buy and drive their vehicles for convenience. Technology or not. Those people can be the ones who send their data back and forth to Toyota for them to evaluate and change vehicles as they see fit.

I don't choose to do so.

 

This issue is not about if someone is "on the radar" or if they have "something to hide. This is a slaves mentality and people apply it to anything data or privacy related.

People say stupid things like that and accept these practices instead of doing simple things like writing a letter or email, making a phone call or whatever it is that can be done to communicate the message that these issues need to be addressed.

If you don't have the stones to vocalize what is right and what is wrong, fine. Don't detract from a scholarly debate with fallacy.

No one cares if you have personally something to hide or not, that is irrelevant to the broader conversation and a misleading premise.

There is such a thing a principle in this world. If you let people roll you over on issues like this, where does it end?