Toyota states that it takes the protection of its customers' personal data very seriously. At the same time, the company confirms: the data communication module (DCM) installed in cars, which appears under the name "Connected Services," can only be turned off, but cannot be removed. If you try to remove it, it may lead to loss of warranty and failure of Bluetooth and the audio system.
During an investigation conducted by Choice, it was found that Toyota's "Connected Services" option "collects data about the vehicle's location, driving style, fuel level in the tank, as well as owners' phone numbers and email addresses."
"Car manufacturers claim that such technologies are designed to make driving safer. But in conditions where hacking and commercial data exchange become commonplace, this is just another tool for collecting valuable information, regardless of whether consumers agree to it," said Rafi Alam, senior campaign and policy advisor at Choice.
"At the same time, Toyota's terms of operation for 'Connected Services' state: if the owner does not opt out of the option, the company has the right to collect and process personal data and information about the vehicle for research, product improvement, and analytics," he added.
"In addition, the automaker may transfer information to third parties, including collection agencies or insurance companies. Toyota claims that in some cases, the owner's permission is required for data transfer, but the wording in the company's policy is so vague that it is almost impossible to understand what exactly constitutes such consent."
