A watchdog report finds cars are collecting personal data

A privacy and internet watchdog report offers a word of caution: You are being tracked by your car, which is gathering far more data than is necessary to drive you where you need to go.

In a research released on Wednesday, Mozilla, the organization that creates the Firefox browser, described how more than two dozen automakers' policies permit the gathering, storage, and sale of a variety of sensitive data about automobile owners.

The study's authors claimed that today's automobiles routinely gather data on a par with digital corporations, provide few disclosures about how that data is stored and utilized, and don't provide drivers with any practical means of opting out.

In contrast to Europe, the United States has few significant laws on how businesses can trade and store personal data. As a result, there is a thriving sector of businesses that frequently buy and sell people's personal information without their knowledge.

The vast list of personal data that automakers claim they may follow includes health data, internet browsing history, geographic information, music and podcast listening patterns, health history, employment and purchase history, and immigration status.

Six of the manufacturers claim to be able to gather "genetic information" or "genetic characteristics," but it is not obvious how they do so. All automakers, with the exception of four, claim to be able to sell part or all of the information about their customers.

In general, American businesses, including automakers, cooperate with law enforcement when required to do so by a court order or warrant.