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From the OnStar microphones listening, the driver-facing cameras watching, and the always-on wifi broadcasting, the present state of the auto industry's offerin

From the OnStar microphones listening, the driver-facing cameras watching, and the always-on wifi broadcasting, the present state of the auto industry's offerings certainly have a whiff about them of a major intelligence operation dating back decades. See stories about Crypto AG to grasp the lengths the intelligence community will go to to gain an information advantage. Cars are rolling blackmail machines, today.

api 3y ago
While intelligence definitely does do this stuff, I think the relentless drive for monetizable surveillance data and other sources of recurring revenue is a more immediate and pervasive motive. Literally every single business incentive pushes companies to build in as much telemetry and as many opportunities for subscription revenue or profitable data harvesting as possible. It’s become downright hard to resist since all your competitors are doing it and your shareholders demand it. A lot of people don’t realize how much money you can make selling high quality (read: invasive) data. Look into what data brokers pay. Every car can generate a secondary recurring revenue stream this way. Mass surveillance for targeted advertising is the primary business model of all B2C networking technology. This can only be fixed with legislation, but it would take a massive grassroots campaign to override all the many interests who like things this way. If only people cared about important stuff like this half as much as they do about the latest culture war freak out.
- landemva 3y ago
  >> This can only be fixed with legislation >> If only people cared about important stuff like this Most don't care enough and perceive there are benefits like calling police when a crash is detected. Those who do care can fix their own vehicles by removing transmitters and antennas. No need to do nothing while hoping for legislation.

api 3y ago

While intelligence definitely does do this stuff, I think the relentless drive for monetizable surveillance data and other sources of recurring revenue is a more immediate and pervasive motive. Literally every single business incentive pushes companies to build in as much telemetry and as many opportunities for subscription revenue or profitable data harvesting as possible. It’s become downright hard to resist since all your competitors are doing it and your shareholders demand it. A lot of people don’t realize how much money you can make selling high quality (read: invasive) data. Look into what data brokers pay. Every car can generate a secondary recurring revenue stream this way. Mass surveillance for targeted advertising is the primary business model of all B2C networking technology. This can only be fixed with legislation, but it would take a massive grassroots campaign to override all the many interests who like things this way. If only people cared about important stuff like this half as much as they do about the latest culture war freak out.

landemva 3y ago
>> This can only be fixed with legislation >> If only people cared about important stuff like this Most don't care enough and perceive there are benefits like calling police when a crash is detected. Those who do care can fix their own vehicles by removing transmitters and antennas. No need to do nothing while hoping for legislation.