Ford Privacy Promise: No Sale of Driving Data After GM Deal

What GM was accused of

According to the attorneys general, GM enrolled millions of drivers in its Smart Driver program between 2016 and 2024. The program was marketed as a way to improve driving safety, and GM told drivers their information would not be shared with insurers without consent. A New York Times investigation found that data on how often people drove, how often they braked or accelerated hard, and whether they sped reached insurers, some of which used it to help set rates. GM says the agreement covers a product it ended in 2024 and that it is committed to being clear about how data is used.

Ford's approach

Ford did not link its move to GM's case. Chief Privacy Officer Kristin Jones said people do not trust companies to take care of their data and that Ford wants to build that trust. The company surveyed just over 1,000 U.S. consumers: 91% called data privacy highly important, yet 56% said they would share some data in return for certain features.

Customers can opt out of sharing any connected vehicle data, but some features then stop working, including internet connectivity, the BlueCruise hands-free driving system and vehicle location tracking in the Ford app. Ford also launched a website explaining what its vehicles collect, how the data is used and how to change settings. Those controls have existed for years, the company says, but it wants them to be easier to understand and use.