...with no oversight 😳

In March 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency is purchasing commercially available data that tracks the movements of Americans. A significant portion of this data is generated by connected vehicles. Modern cars often function as mobile data centers, recording precise GPS coordinates, speed, and even braking patterns through onboard telematics systems. While consumers may believe this data is used only for safety features or roadside assistance, manufacturers and third-party apps frequently sell this information to data brokers. These brokers then aggregate the files and sell them to federal agencies. This allows the FBI to reconstruct a driver's detailed travel history without obtaining a warrant, which would normally be required to get the same information directly from a service provider. Critics like Senator Ron Wyden argue that buying driving data creates a loophole in the Fourth Amendment. This has prompted the introduction of the Government Surveillance Reform Act, which specifically aims to require warrants for the purchase of vehicle telematics. #newcars #infotainment