TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Ford has launched a Privacy Promise website describing the connected vehicle data it may collect, how it uses that information and how drivers can opt out. Ford privacy chief Kristin Jones says the aim is to let owners choose a less-connected, “quasi-’80s mode” experience, though disabling connectivity can remove features such as live traffic and app-based location services.
Ford has launched a Privacy Promise website explaining what connected vehicle data it may collect, how it uses the information and how owners can turn off data sharing. The automaker says drivers who opt out can create a “quasi-’80s mode” experience, but some internet-connected functions, including live traffic and app-based features, may no longer work.
The information Ford says it may collect depends on the vehicle and services in use. The company’s site describes categories including location data, driving characteristics and diagnostic information, as well as other connected data generated through the vehicle or Ford’s smartphone app. The site is intended to explain both the data practices and the options available to owners.
Ford Chief Privacy Officer Kristin Jones told Automotive News that the company’s aim is to let people who do not want to share connected data opt out. Jones described the result as a “quasi-’80s mode” that would offer a more old-school driving experience. That is Ford’s stated goal; the source report does not specify a single switch that disables every form of data collection across all models.
Turning off connectivity has practical costs. According to the report, disabling connected navigation, internet access and location features in the Ford app can remove some functions. A vehicle that does not send location information to Ford also cannot rely on connected services to return information such as live traffic data. Available controls and their effects may vary by model and feature.
Privacy Choices Have Feature Costs
The announcement puts a concrete choice before Ford owners: share some vehicle data to use connected services, or limit sharing and accept a less-connected car. For drivers concerned about where their vehicle goes or how it is driven, knowing which information is collected and how to opt out can affect their purchasing and ownership decisions.
The choice also highlights a business tension. Connected data can help automakers develop or tailor features, while connectivity can support digital services that companies may sell to customers. Ford CEO Jim Farley has recently discussed digital subscriptions as a way to increase revenue, the source report notes. It does not establish how much revenue depends on data sharing or whether opting out changes subscription availability. Owners will need to weigh privacy controls against convenience and feature access based on their own vehicle and services.
Products Worth Considering
Autel MaxiCheck MX808S Bidirectional OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner
Autel MaxiCOM MK900BT Bidirectional Automotive Diagnostic Scanner
Autel MaxiCOM MK808S Bidirectional Diagnostic Scanner
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Ford Responds to Data Concerns
Modern connected vehicles can generate information about location, driving behavior, vehicle condition and the use of in-car functions. Ford’s site comes amid wider scrutiny of automakers’ handling of such information. The source report notes that General Motors recently reached a $220 million settlement after allegations that it shared driver data with brokers through its Smart Driver program from 2016 to 2024. Those allegations concern GM, not Ford.
Ford’s position, as described in the report, is that it is not in the business of selling driver data and that owners should be able to choose whether to share connected information. The new site provides a public explanation of the company’s approach; the report does not independently audit Ford’s practices or detail the terms and scope of every data-sharing arrangement.
“Our ultimate goal is that, for someone who does not want to share any connected data with Ford at all, they can opt out and essentially create a quasi-’80s mode car.”
— Kristin Jones, Ford chief privacy officer, speaking to Automotive News
Opt-Out Details Vary by Vehicle
The source report does not list the exact steps owners must take to disable each category of data collection, or whether the controls work the same way across Ford models, model years and connected services. It also does not specify which functions remain available after an owner opts out, or whether all data collection can be stopped through one setting.
Ford’s stated position that it does not sell driver data is reported, but the material provided does not include an independent review of the company’s data practices. The terms for any retained data, exceptions to opt-outs and effects on digital subscriptions are also not laid out in the report. Owners should consult the Privacy Promise site and the settings and terms for their specific vehicle and app.
Owners Can Review Ford’s Controls
Ford owners can use the new Privacy Promise website to review the company’s explanations of data collection and available opt-out choices. The next practical step for an individual driver is to check the controls for their own model and connected services, then confirm which features would be disabled before changing settings.
The source report does not give a schedule for further updates to the site or identify a date when additional privacy controls will be introduced. How Ford’s opt-out options apply across its vehicle lineup, and how owners respond to the trade-off between data sharing and connected features, remain to be seen.
Key Questions
What is Ford’s Privacy Promise website?
It is a new Ford website that explains what connected vehicle data Ford may collect, how the company uses it and how owners can opt out of data sharing.
What does Ford mean by “quasi-’80s mode”?
Ford privacy chief Kristin Jones used the phrase to describe a more old-school experience for owners who opt out of connected data sharing. It does not mean every modern feature will keep working without connectivity.
What could drivers lose by turning off connected services?
The source report says disabling connected navigation, internet access or location features in the Ford app can reduce functionality. For example, a vehicle without connected access may not provide live traffic information.
What types of information may Ford collect?
Depending on the model and services, Ford says the categories may include location, driving characteristics and diagnostic information, along with other data from the vehicle and Ford’s smartphone app.
Can every Ford owner disable all data collection with one setting?
The report does not establish that. Available controls and their effects may differ by vehicle and service, so owners should check Ford’s site and the settings for their specific model.
Source: insideevs.com
