Is Your Car Spying On You?

[Biker67]

I know this is BYD, not MG.
But I bet all Chinese manufacturers are at it.......

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/25/chinese-electric-car-records-everywhere-youve-been/

 

[siteguru]

They could change that title to "Car Records Everywhere You've Been" .. the exact same tech is already in ICE and Hybrid cars.

 

[Biker67]

They could change that title to "Car Records Everywhere You've Been" .. the exact same tech is already in ICE and Hybrid cars.

Yet the MOD haven't banned ICE vehicles from their bases?

 

[Archev]

They could change that title to "Car Records Everywhere You've Been" .. the exact same tech is already in ICE and Hybrid cars.

My Berlingo records virtually every location I visit with times and mileages.

 

[Giller]

I know this is BYD, not MG.
But I bet all Chinese manufacturers are at it.......

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/25/chinese-electric-car-records-everywhere-youve-been/

If it does, if it doesn't, it's the world we live in, be it facial recognition on cctv cameras of in conversation with your phone on the table when you tell the other half, "I'm in the mood for a really rough shag" and 20 minutes later your social media is bombarding you with advertisements for pipe tobacco there's always someone watching you.

 

[Ian Key]

If you were concerned about being tracked in your car you'd leave your phone at home as that's been tracking you for years.

 

[Rolfe]

I feel quite reassured by the thought that my phone is tracking me, given my propensity to take off alone into rather remote environments.

 

[Everest]

Yet the MOD haven't banned ICE vehicles from their bases?

I guess that the MOD is less concerned with (say) the Germans knowing where our bases are these days vs. the Chinese.

 

[m4rmite]

I guess that the MOD is less concerned with (say) the Germans knowing where our bases are these days vs. the Chinese.

You mean the Chinese don't have satellites circling the earth, or even Google maps?

 

[m4rmite]

Well here's nissans tracking tactics.

Nissan, Kia can collect data on drivers’ ‘sexual activity’ and ‘sex lives’: privacy watchdog

Your car may be keeping tabs on your “sex drive.” Car makers Nissan and Kia can collect data on their drivers’ “sexual activity” and “sex lives” — an…

nypost.com

They'd need to check the modem was still working for my car, if I had ever bought a Nissan.

 

[Archev]

Well here's nissans tracking tactics.

Nissan, Kia can collect data on drivers’ ‘sexual activity’ and ‘sex lives’: privacy watchdog

Your car may be keeping tabs on your “sex drive.” Car makers Nissan and Kia can collect data on their drivers’ “sexual activity” and “sex lives” — an…

nypost.com

They'd need to check the modem was still working for my car, if I had ever bought a Nissan.

Steam sensors in the rear windows ?

 

[Biker67]

Some of you EVangelists seem to have taken this thread as criticism of Chinese EV's.
I've no idea why though?
Don't forget that the same technology is undoubtedly in my PHEV as well.

 

[salty]

To be honest I think it's all a, load of cobblers. Be it, EVs (Chinese or otherwise) ICE, PHEV, LPG, Chip Fat. etc.

 

[Biker67]

To be honest I think it's all a, load of cobblers. Be it, EVs (Chinese or otherwise) ICE, PHEV, LPG, Chip Fat. etc.

The part about the MOD banning Chinese EV's from their bases is 100% true Salty.
I have two mates that have confirmed it. One is a recently retired RAF fighter tech.
And the other one delivers cars for a living.

The guy who delivers cars gave me a 30 minute lecture when he discovered I'd purchased the HS.
Until I pointed out that spying on me wouldn't gain China anything.
In fact they'd probably die of boredom waiting for me to eventually use the car!

 

[siteguru]

Don't forget that the same technology is undoubtedly in my PHEV as well.

.. and it's likely also in every other (new) car from every other manufacturer too - like I said earlier. It's not an EV-only thing, nor solely a Chinese thing either.

 

[mg4mc]

I remember a number of years ago there was murder on Anglesey. The police evidence included data from Range Rover that detailed the killers journey in his Discovery to the location, and even what time he opened the tailgate when he got there to take the crossbow out. That was back in 2019 iirc. So nothing new to see here.

 

[salty]

If your not, up to no good, you've nowt to worry about. Unless picking ya nose, is a capital offence. Then most if not all the country, would be in trouble.

 

[Rolfe]

I remember a number of years ago there was murder on Anglesey. The police evidence included data from Range Rover that detailed the killers journey in his Discovery to the location, and even what time he opened the tailgate when he got there to take the crossbow out. That was back in 2019 iirc. So nothing new to see here.

Wow. As someone interested in where David Gilroy dumped Suzanne Pilley's body on 5th May 2010, I wish he'd been driving a car like that rather than a middle-aged Vauxhall Vectra. I imagine the police do too.

 

[mg4mc]

What has changed of course is who may have access to that data.

 

[Biker67]

.. and it's likely also in every other (new) car from every other manufacturer too - like I said earlier. It's not an EV-only thing, nor solely a Chinese thing either.

You could be right?
But if so why have the MOD only singled out Chinese cars for a ban from their sites?