Your car is watching – here’s how to shield your personal in-car data Modern cars can collect and share private driver data through connected services, but it's not essential. Here's how to opt out. In an internet-driven world, modern connected cars are under scrutiny from regulators and industry bodies largely due to their ability to collect and share private driver information. While car makers generally use anonymised driver data for a range of purposes, such as maintenance, automatic SOS notification and real-time traffic conditions, some regulators are starting to target car makers. As reported by Drive in April 2026, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is currently investigating two Asia-based car makers over alleged breaches of the collection of private driver data. While an OAIC spokesperson confirmed it is looking into a range of potential violations, they did say GPS location was identified as a key concern. “Location data, in particular, which connected vehicles have the potential to easily collect, is a specific category of data that presents a clear privacy concern,” an OAIC spokesperson previously told Drive. Though internet-connected cars are undoubtedly useful and convenient, some car owners are sharing their concerns, with a few drivers reaching out to Drive following a segment on Channel 9’s Today show. “I saw your segment on air and was hoping for your advice on how I can prevent my car data from being shared with the car company or the dealer. I am interested in understanding what steps I can take to better manage my privacy,” a Drive reader asked. Depending on your car, drivers can either turn off data-sharing features in the car’s infotainment privacy settings or through the brand’s connected services mobile app. A spokesperson for South Korean car maker Kia said, "If customers do not wish for