Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 07/05/2026 4:39:08 PM PDT by devane617
Tesla cars are constantly capturing video data from all their cars that is sent back to their servers. No doubt, this data could be used to track criminals or anyone else by a query to the database. I have not seen this discussed anywhere, but seems like LE or those with ill intent could see this as a treasure.
I saw this post: This little blue dot on your phone is a revolutionary invention https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4386790/posts and it made me remember this question.
Tesla uses the data to improve their self driving algorithms so billions of videos are uploaded from cars daily and that includes surroundings—other cars and tags.
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
There is one exception. If the vehicle is in an accident and/or the air bag deploys, a 30 sec clip is of the incident is automatically uploaded.
There have been a few news stories where Tesla viewed videos from cars to identify missing people or those doing damage to cars. Maybe that data is kept in the car and Tesla can access it upon request? Either way, it is accessible to Tesla.
No, Mr. Tesla keeps it all for himself, especially when people do naughty things in the car.
FWIW
https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2021/06/blind-items-revealed-2_01873854195.html
https://www.tesla.com/legal/privacy
How We May Use Your Information
We may use the information we collect to:
Communicate with you
Fulfill our products and services
Improve and enhance development of our products and services
This includes contacting you to advise you of important safety-related information, to notify first responders in the event of an accident involving your vehicle, present products and offers tailored to you, or to respond to your inquiries and fulfill your requests for product information, Tesla Updates, and other events.
This is all part of the intentionally misnamed “Right to Repair” argument that has been going on behind the scenes.
The question boils down to who owns the data that you generate and where is the line for your consent to be eternally monitored.
As you can see, as our cars become more computerized the companies will alway say boldly “No! We respect your privacy!”
Then in tiny letters, “We monitor you fully and share and profit off it with whomever we damned well please BUT its for your own good.”
None of the companies say they will share data. If the police ask for it they will. They’ll just resist out act like they won’t.
Remember the terrorist couple in California with the locked phones that Apple wouldn’t open them? That was just a pr thing. FBI stated in the case that Apple immediately unlocked it.
I wonder if Tesla cars share real time driving problems such as; traffic, detours, etc to help others in the area.
They have access to the data as it happens. I do not think they keep all the interior video data forever.
In case of an accident, they upload the last 30 seconds.
On the other hand, the ability to store data is becoming cheaper and cheaper.
Tesla uses Google Maps!
It will probably evolve to “We value your privacy. The value is a $15,000 extra fee to ensure your data is not shared.”
“I wonder if Tesla cars share real time driving problems such as; traffic, detours, etc to help others in the area.”
I’m pretty sure I have seen where they do share the data.
” Tesla viewed videos from cars to identify missing people or those doing damage to cars. Maybe that data is kept in the car and Tesla can access it upon request? Either way, it is accessible to Tesla.”
A Tesla can detect nearby motion when it is parked, and record it locally. This is a security feature you can enable or disable. All the video is saved to a usb thumb drive in the glove compartment. It is not accessible by Tesla. When there was a lot of vandalism after the 2024 Trump election, owners were sharing these videos, not Tesla.
I know it’s not Tesla In the case I’m about to mention, but I know the Ford dealership where I bought my car and take it for service has been sharing my data with Carfax without my consent. I was a little upset to find that out especially since both my cars are paid off.
My understanding is they use generated data to price their insurance. If you drive fast or late at night/early morning your charge for insurance goes up. Don’t know if they look at video for pricing.
I know cell phones do just that
My pal got a job that now requires a commute, as opposed to just across town. Took his Kia in for a service, at the dealer. Two bills later, his insurance went up. He called to complain, and the response was “ Looks like you forgot to tell us you now drive 300 miles a week, Mr. Bowman”. Oops !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.