8 ms·

I'd like a tesla but not comfortable with their data policy. If tesla provides a way to opt out I may consider a base model 3 in the future.

by jak92 7y ago

asaph 7y ago
There is a way to opt out. It's a setting within the vehicle.
- Dirlewanger 7y ago
  Is it an actual opt-out or is it a Google-esque not-actually-off opt-out?
e1ven 7y ago
Agreed. There's a lot to like about the cars, but they're very invasive. Luckily you can get a service manual in Massachusetts (or at least electronic access) If I were to buy one my first move would be to remove the modem and WiFi. Even then I don't like the amount of data it records internally.
- mlindner 7y ago
  I don't think you understand the car if you want to turn off the ability for the car to improve the software.
  - e1ven 7y ago
    Fair enough - I think understand their model, but I don't really agree with it :) I don't think my car needs internet access, or anyone needs the ability to check in on it. Unless there's a safety recall, I'd personally prefer my car to keep the OS and configuration throughout it's lifecycle. But I love their batteries in particular, and I think they're very nice cars in many ways.
addflip 7y ago
I own a BMW i3 and the Tesla Model 3. Both have cellular connections and are constantly pinging their motherships. At least on the Tesla I have the option of opting out. No such ability is available on the BMW.
- jak92 7y ago
  > No such ability is available on the BMW. Does the CEO of BMW tweet that it's your fault after you wreck your car?
  - mlindner 7y ago
    No. But the CEO of Tesla doesn't do that either. (They can't tell the reason for the crash remotely, they extract the data directly, in person, with physical access to the car.)
- edm0nd 7y ago
  You most certainly can prevent it from paging home to BMW. Either thru the settings menu or hacking it via ODB2 port and coding it off with software like E-Sys.
  - zmarty 7y ago
    Yeah, like any normal customer would do. /s
    - edm0nd 7y ago
      I mean, it's the same software the a BMW dealership uses when they code your car. I was easily able to learn how to code my own BMW using it within a day. It's not hard.
- fxbl0i 7y ago
  Interesting. Can't you wrap the antenna in a Faraday cage, or simply disconnect it?
t413 7y ago
I've met [Phil Sadow](https://www.fastcompany.com/90209541/meet-the-renegade-whos-teaching-the-world-to-fix-totaled-teslas https://www.fastcompany.com/90209541/meet-the-renegade-whos-...) the other day in Berkeley, he's pretty fully p0wned the S,3,X systems and replaced the tesla endpoints up with his own server. If you're really worried about this enough then there may be a way.
kleiba 7y ago
What exactly is their data policy that makes you uncomfortable? How does it compare with the mandatory "eCall" system that all new cars in Europe must have (SIM card and microphone that the car user(s) have no control over)?

I'd like a tesla but not comfortable with their data policy. If tesla provides a way to opt out I may consider a base model 3 in the future.

by jak92 7y ago

I'd like a tesla but not comfortable with their data policy. If tesla provides a way to opt out I may consider a base model 3 in the future.

asaph 7y ago

There is a way to opt out. It's a setting within the vehicle.

Dirlewanger 7y ago
Is it an actual opt-out or is it a Google-esque not-actually-off opt-out?

e1ven 7y ago

Agreed. There's a lot to like about the cars, but they're very invasive. Luckily you can get a service manual in Massachusetts (or at least electronic access) If I were to buy one my first move would be to remove the modem and WiFi. Even then I don't like the amount of data it records internally.

mlindner 7y ago
I don't think you understand the car if you want to turn off the ability for the car to improve the software.
- e1ven 7y ago
  Fair enough - I think understand their model, but I don't really agree with it :) I don't think my car needs internet access, or anyone needs the ability to check in on it. Unless there's a safety recall, I'd personally prefer my car to keep the OS and configuration throughout it's lifecycle. But I love their batteries in particular, and I think they're very nice cars in many ways.

addflip 7y ago

I own a BMW i3 and the Tesla Model 3. Both have cellular connections and are constantly pinging their motherships. At least on the Tesla I have the option of opting out. No such ability is available on the BMW.

jak92 7y ago
> No such ability is available on the BMW. Does the CEO of BMW tweet that it's your fault after you wreck your car?
- mlindner 7y ago
  No. But the CEO of Tesla doesn't do that either. (They can't tell the reason for the crash remotely, they extract the data directly, in person, with physical access to the car.)
edm0nd 7y ago
You most certainly can prevent it from paging home to BMW. Either thru the settings menu or hacking it via ODB2 port and coding it off with software like E-Sys.
- zmarty 7y ago
  Yeah, like any normal customer would do. /s
  - edm0nd 7y ago
    I mean, it's the same software the a BMW dealership uses when they code your car. I was easily able to learn how to code my own BMW using it within a day. It's not hard.
fxbl0i 7y ago
Interesting. Can't you wrap the antenna in a Faraday cage, or simply disconnect it?

t413 7y ago

I've met [Phil Sadow](https://www.fastcompany.com/90209541/meet-the-renegade-whos-teaching-the-world-to-fix-totaled-teslas https://www.fastcompany.com/90209541/meet-the-renegade-whos-...) the other day in Berkeley, he's pretty fully p0wned the S,3,X systems and replaced the tesla endpoints up with his own server. If you're really worried about this enough then there may be a way.

kleiba 7y ago

What exactly is their data policy that makes you uncomfortable? How does it compare with the mandatory "eCall" system that all new cars in Europe must have (SIM card and microphone that the car user(s) have no control over)?