Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle? • Hacker News Board

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#31

Post by xp84 » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:02 PM UTC

karlgkk wrote: post #19

cj wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who got into a rollover accident which ended with my car upside down on a freeway, hearing only the onstar person talking to me while half conscious, this is sad. I do distinctely remember strongly disliking the user agreement I signed for the "internet connected" features of the car when I bought it. 100% rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn't' find a way to opt out, and I wasn't so motivated to physicall…

> As someone who got into a rollover accident which ended with my car upside down on a freeway, hearing only the onstar person talking to me while half conscious, this is sad. My phone does this now. Most phones do it now.

Maybe in theory, but I trust Apple to detect a crash correctly about as far as I can throw my iPhone without breaking its glass back or front.

This is the company whose flagship voice assistant, in 2026, can’t tell the intended recipient in a sentence like “Text Bob Mary signed the deal.” And if my phone happens to be thrown into the back of the car by the crash, I doubt anyone will be able to hear me.

Not to mention that OnStar has operators who talk to first responders. the cell phone thing will just call 911 and hope for the best.

I pay for OnStar, and think it’s worth it.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#32

Post by nancyminusone » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC

cj wrote: post #12

jamilbk wrote: post #2

I remember yanking out the onstar unit in my 2015 silverado to physically disconnect the cell antenna. This was (is?) the only practical way to disable cellular in that vehicle. Kudos to Rivian for making this a supported user privacy feature.

As someone who got into a rollover accident which ended with my car upside down on a freeway, hearing only the onstar person talking to me while half conscious, this is sad. I do distinctely remember strongly disliking the user agreement I signed for the "internet connected" features of the car when I bought it. 100% rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn't' find a way to opt out, and I wasn't so motivated to physicall…

>Shouldn't have to trade privacy for safety.

You shouldn't have to, and yet...

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/01/...

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#33

Post by bri3d » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:06 PM UTC

> limit or disable certain functionality in the vehicle: ... over-the-air updates, which provide new ... safety enhancements ...

I wonder what happens if you disable the e-SIM (in the US) and then a safety recall appears via software update - do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA?

This is a huge unresolved issue with EVs IMO; ICE cars are required to provide emissions-relevant updates over software which can operate using a J2534 passthrough device, which effectively means powertrain modules have to allow (potentially signed) updates over CAN using software that can be obtained by an end user (a lot of people don't know this; for almost any ICE car in the US, you can buy a 3-day or 1-week subscription to the dealership level diagnostic software for a somewhat reasonable fee and use it with a J2534 device).

But for EVs, there's no such rule and as far as I can tell it's entirely a gray area in the US now; the NHTSA require a "remedy" for recalls but nobody seems to have pushed back to determine whether OTA is truly a remedy. The traditional autos all offer dealerships as a backup option, but Tesla and Rivian have several recalls with only OTA remedies already. This seems sketchy.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#34

Post by baggachipz » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:06 PM UTC

This is the sign of a company who listens to their customers. They have received feedback saying some people don't want a connected car, so they make it an option.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#35

Post by cyberax » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:07 PM UTC

johnea wrote: post #18

cyberax wrote: post #9

How about also adding Android Auto as well? Oh no, it'd take away their "control the user experience" power-tripping.

So why would you prefer goggle's "control the user experience" power-tripping, to rivian's? I'd much rather side with the company that was willing to allow the user to disable net connectivity...

My phone runs GrapheneOS and does not use any Google service. But it supports Android Auto. Allowing it would dramatically improve the experience.

Instead, Rivian adds a purely performative toggle that makes the car's navigation largely useless and doesn't provide a good alternative.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#36

Post by Cider9986 » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:08 PM UTC

Related: Mozilla did a review of different cars for privacy:

(https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/arti...)

>Nissan earned its second-to-last spot for collecting some of the creepiest categories of data we have ever seen. [Their privacy policy] includes your “sexual activity.” Not to be out done, Kia also mentions they can collect information about your “sex life” in their privacy policy. Oh, and six car companies say they can collect your “genetic information” or “genetic characteristics.”

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#37

Post by yjftsjthsd-h » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:09 PM UTC

johnea wrote: post #18

cyberax wrote: post #9

How about also adding Android Auto as well? Oh no, it'd take away their "control the user experience" power-tripping.

So why would you prefer goggle's "control the user experience" power-tripping, to rivian's? I'd much rather side with the company that was willing to allow the user to disable net connectivity...

I would prefer to have the choice.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#38

Post by yjftsjthsd-h » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:10 PM UTC

carlgreene wrote: post #23

simpaticoder wrote: post #6

This is insufficient. There needs to be a physical button that either physically disconnects every antenna and/or de-powers the transceiver.

Kinda rich coming from someone who doesn't even have a valid SSL cert on the website in their profile bio...

What does that have to do with anything?

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#39

Post by Cider9986 » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:10 PM UTC

>It sounds to me like this is more akin to the Cellular Data toggle on Android as opposed to Aeroplane mode. If that is the case, it will presumably not prevent your vehicle from connecting to cellular base stations, which means your vehicle will still be trackable by network operators.

(https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/rivian-allows-you-to-dis...)

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#40

Post by WaxProlix » Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:12 PM UTC

It was expensive but every day I am happy with my Rivian purchase. Great to have a vehicle where the actual users are obviously thought of (contra for instance the cybertruck where some variety 'cool factor' was obviously prioritized, resulting in finger crunching hoods and such).