What does the car you drive know about you? What data is captured by modern vehicles, and what choices consumers have? What disclosures are made to vehicle users? Are vehicles - and the industry - compliant with privacy laws?

Excerpts from a 2015 interview with a top vehicle forensics expert paint a bleak picture: not only consumers "little do they know" about the types and amount of data cars "suck down" without notice, but consumer privacy is a laughing matter to the people in-the-know.

Now you may think only a forensic expert with specialized tools could access your personal data once you are done with your rental car, or have sold your car or returned that lease or fleet vehicle... but think again. Some information, like your home address and your garage door codes for example, are there for anybody to know, but even information that you may think is protected from unauthorized eyes (e.g. your contacts, your phone logs, your text messages) can often be easily accessed - not only by skilled hackers, but by everyday snoopers and creeps with simple methods (see for instance https://www.privacy4cars.com/can-my-c....