Cars have become smart phones on wheels, sucking up reams of personal data to track us and sell us things. So-called autonomous technology has also put the public in danger in new ways. Through our Connected Cars project, Consumer Watchdog spotlights how modern cars are vulnerable to hacking, how autonomous vehicles are dangerous, and how cars have become the latest tools to profile and track consumers.
Connected Cars Releases
California Poised to Be First State to Stop Geolocation Tracking, New Report Shows Need For Privacy Protections From Connected Cars
LOS ANGELES, CA — A new report details the privacy problems posed for consumers from connected cars and points to new rules to be developed in California as a potential model across the country, if the rules can...
Consumer Watchdog Applauds NHTSA Investigation of Tesla Over Autopilot Problems
Los Angeles, CA – The nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog applauded the decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate Tesla’s Autopilot feature and crashes related to it.
Consumer Watchdog has long been a critic of the rush...
Consumer Watchdog Hacks A Tesla to Prove Dangers of Wirelessly Connected Cars
Los Angeles, CA – The nonprofit, nonpartisan Consumer Watchdog today released a video showing how a box it built with the help of technologists could hack into the wireless connection of a Tesla and take over the screen...
US Senators Call Out NHTSA For Failure To Protect Americans From Risk Of Internet Connected Cars, Demand Answers
Washington D.C. - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), calling out the agency's "dangerously reactive...
Autonomous Rules to Remain Voluntary in the U.S.
By Paul Eisenstein, RIDE TECH BLOG
January 17, 2020
https://ride.tech/mobility-lifestyle/us-dot-sec-unveils-voluntary-av-guidelines-as-congress-deadlocks-on-specific-rules/
The White House has announced plans regarding public testing of autonomous vehicles.
Dubbed AV 4.0, the guidelines would sync efforts by 38 different federal agencies that might impact autonomous vehicle development.
But the...
US Senators Markey and Blumenthal Ask Federal Safety Regulators If Carmakers Reported Cyber Security Risks
Washington, DC – United States Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal today wrote the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ask if carmakers have reported the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in their Internet-connected cars and what steps NHTSA is...
Report Finds Hacking Of Internet Connected Cars Big National Security Threat
Los Angeles, CA – The nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog has issued a report, with the help of car industry technologists, that finds all the top 2020 cars have Internet connections to safety critical systems that leave them vulnerable...
Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Auto Safety Urge DMV, AG, & FTC to Investigate Tesla for Deceptive Practices After Another Autopilot-Related Death
Los Angeles, CA -- Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Auto Safety today renewed their call to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles to investigate dangerously misleading and deceptive practices and representations of Tesla Motors,...
Robot Cars On Average Required A Human Takeover Every 14 Miles Driven
Los Angeles, CA — Updated reports required by the California Department of Motor Vehicles from companies testing robot cars on California public roads reveal a fleet-wide average of 1 human takeover for every 14 miles tested, according to...
State Reports Show That Robot Cars Aren’t Ready For Public Roads
Los Angeles—New reports required by the California Department of Motor Vehicles from companies testing robot cars on the state’s public roads show the technology is not ready to operate without a human who can take control of the...
Privacy Videos

Californians Now Have More Power Over Their Data
01:07

KPIX CBS TV-5 San Francisco, CA: Your Car's Computer Could Be Tracking And Reporting Your Every Move
00:48

California Votes YES on Privacy- Prop 24
13:14

Rage For Justice Report Podcast- Prop 24 For Your Privacy
19:18

Consumer Watchdog Hacks Tesla
02:00

FOX KSWB: New Internet-Connected Cars Could Get Hacked
01:05

ABC: Kill Switch Report Highlights Widespread Hacking Vulnerability of Connected Cars
02:12

KTTV FOX: Consumer Watchdog Report Warns That Hackers Can Take Over Your Car
05:02

SPECNEWS1: Watchdog Warns Cars With Internet Connection Vulnerable to Hacking
00:37

KBCW: Connected Cars Pose Risk to Driver Safety Due to Hacking Vulnerability
02:31

ABC KGO: Whistleblower Engineers Warn Connected Cars Need A Kill Switch to Stop Hacking
02:10

KCAL: Alarming Watchdog Report Shows Connected Cars Are Vulnerable to Hacking
02:51

ABC KGTV: Report Says Internet-Linked Cars Are Vulnerable To Hackers
00:30

KTTV Fox 11: Consumer Watchdog Report Shows How Vulnerable Connected Cars Are To Dangerous Hacking
01:05

NBC: Watchdog Report Show Connected Cars Lack of Cybersecurity Put Drivers at Risk
03:38

CBS KGPE: Connected Cars Pose A Cybersecurity Risk
03:05

Fox WDAF: High-Tech Cars Put Drivers At Risk Of Hacking Interference
00:47

ABC WXYZ: Connected Cars Can Be Hacked Says Kill Switch Report
01:36

KTTV GDLA: US Senators Write NHTSA About Connected Car Concerns
01:17

FOX KPTV: Kill Switch Report Details Cybersecurity Issues With Internet Connected Cars
02:28

CBS LA: Kill Switch Study Finds Connected Cars Are Vulnerable to Hacking
01:41

FOX KTTV: Consumer Watchdog on Privacy Issues, Hacking Risks With Internet-Connected Toys
03:00

CBS Evening News With Norah O'Donnell: Jamie Court Explains the Value of CA's Consumer Privacy Act
02:04

WAFF TV-48 Alabama: Watchdog Report Highlights Car-Hacking Risks
03:16

ABC KFSN: Internet-Connected Vehicles At Risk Of Being Hacked Says New Watchdog Report
00:33

KPIX CBS: Connected Cars Need A Kill Switch To Stop Dangerous Hacking
02:31

KCAL: Kill Switch Report Warns of Hacking Risk For Connected Cars
01:29

KTLA: Consumer Watchdog Report Warns of Hacking Risk For Internet Connected Cars
01:05

CBS This Morning: "Movie Pass Engages in Deceptive Data Mining" Says Consumer Watchdog
03:09

California Passes Strictest Privacy Law in Nation - Rising Up w/Sonali
13:09

Consumer Watchdog Exposes
04:20

How Google backs Backpage Sex-Trafficking, Press Conference Pt. 1
14:55

How Google backs Backpage Sex-Trafficking, Press Conference Pt. 3
14:57

Amazon Prime? Or Amazon Slime?
01:22

KMAX CBS Sacramento: Amazon shows deceptive prices to trick consumers, says Consumer Watchdog
00:31

KABC Los Angeles: Anti-Child Sex Trafficking Groups Call Out Google's Backing of Backpage
02:11

KPIX-CBS, San Francisco: DMV Investigates Uber After Consumer Watchdog report
00:28

KFMB CBS 8, San Diego: Amazon Prime Day Deals? Consumer Watchdog Says Beware
01:58

Asking about I AM JANE DOE at Google Shareholder Meeting
03:33

KNBC Los Angeles: Liza Tucker weighs in on regulators' failure to test camp for toxic waste
06:42

KNBC Los Angeles: Consumer Watchdog shows how Google helped fund defense of Backpage
01:58

KIRO CBS 7, Seattle, WA: Consumer Watchdog: Amazon Uses Fake "List Prices" to Trick Consumers
00:44

"I Am Jane Doe" introduction
01:42

WZZM ABC, Grand Rapids, MI: New Bill Would Put Driverless Cars In Legal Limbo Says Consumer Watchdog
00:34

KABC 7, Los Angeles, CA: Watch Out For Amazon's Price Deception, Says Consumer Watchdog
03:20

How Google backs Backpage Sex-Trafficking, Press Conference Pt. 2
15:00

How Google backs Backpage Sex-Trafficking, Press Conference Pt. 4
14:17

KPIX CBS TV 5: Consumer Watchdog Pressures SF Mayor Ed Lee to Monitor Uber, due to Privacy Concerns
00:22

KGO ABC TV-7 San Francisco, CA: Uber Moves Robot Car Testing To Arizona To Avoid Reporting Crashes
00:40
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