Buy a Ford, get a spionage vehicle instead.

smb@lemmy.ml to Technology@lemmy.world – 130 points –

https://therecord.media/ford-patent-application-in-vehicle-listening-advertising

Looks like Ford just voted to NOT be my choice of car vendor in future.

However getting this patent could be used by Ford to prevent such systems from beeing used by all vendors, but thats veery unlikely i guess.

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Companies patent dumb ideas all the time with no real intention to develop them. No harm in mocking them for it, but I wouldn’t be ringing alarm bells unless they actually start implementing it in their vehicles.

Now is the perfect time to raise alarms loudly and publicly so they understand how upset people will be before investing.

No harm in mocking them for it, but I wouldn’t be ringing alarm bells unless they actually start implementing it in their vehicles.

Right. This is what I'm not understanding though. Ford is the only brand I'm aware of where disabling telemetry/radios is as simple as pulling a fuse on many models of their cars (https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/experience-with-disabling-the-telematics-control-unit-module.36040/, https://www.fordtremor.com/threads/disabling-the-modem-pulling-the-fuse.7101/). The other brands don't make it that easy at all where you'd need to modify the radio/antenna yourself (and disassembling a bunch of shit just for the opportunity to do that).

We say this now but in 5 years, cars could go the way of smart TVs... sold at prices subsidized by advertisers.

LOL, imagine thinking that TVs are actually subsidized and that the spyware isn't just extra pure profit.

Lol they absolutely are subsidized. Look how expensive non-smart TVs are new

Last I checked, Sceptre TVs are price-competitive with other brands, if not even cheaper.

Afaik they're a discount brand? That you have to buy from Newegg? But I'm glad there is at least one option!

If they don't included tracking, recording, spying, and advertising, they're premium at this point.

Ford, the new Soviet spy vehicle. Why worry about big brother when you can own a Ford 4x4.

If they patent it and don't use it or sell it, I'm OK with it.

Maybe we should have a nonprofit that patents terrible ideas and sues companies that would implement them. Maybe I should patent The Torment Nexus...