Your car is selling your data

<figure> <img alt="Hands of man on steering wheel" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/gettyimages-144097019.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>This is </em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/the-stepback-newsletter">The Stepback</a><em>, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on cars, data privacy, and autonomous vehicles, follow <a href="https://www.theverge.com/authors/andrew-j-hawkins">Andrew J. Hawkins</a>. </em>The Stepback<em> arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for </em>The Stepback<em> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/newsletters">here</a>.</em></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How it started</h2> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission issued an unprecedented penalty against General Motors: <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/01/ftc-finalizes-order-settling-allegations-gm-onstar-collected-sold-geolocation-data-without-consumers">a five-year ban</a> on selling customer data to consumer reporting agencies and third-party data brokers. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">For years, GM had been collecting all sorts of data on its customers - such as how often they sped or whether they drove at night - and selling it to brok …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/column/994172/your-car-is-selling-your-data">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>