This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
I removed my car's telemetry after I discovered my insurance company and advertisers knew exactly how many miles were on my car and where it was. Only took a minute. Did not affect the navigation GPS, but removed all transmitting.
-
I removed my car's telemetry after I discovered my insurance company and advertisers knew exactly how many miles were on my car and where it was. Only took a minute. Did not affect the navigation GPS, but removed all transmitting.
@dianea @funnymonkey which car do you have and how did you go about it? I'd like to do the same but finding internet search difficult to find information.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
@funnymonkey i have also contemplated this possibility
-
@dianea @funnymonkey which car do you have and how did you go about it? I'd like to do the same but finding internet search difficult to find information.
Removing my Toyota's two way telemetry was easy, just locate the sharkfin antenna at the rear, open the hatch, reach up to the roof liner trim, rip it open with a gloved hand with about 5 kilograms of force, and yank the four skinny wires from the antenna. Push the liner back up into the plastic locks. Only the satellite radio and the driver call assist or whatever they call it were affected, neither I have ever used. That took care of all transmitter. GPS antenna for navigation is in the middle of the top dash panel and is only receive and won't be broadcasted through the sharkfin antenna anymore.
Total time, about a minute. Zero broadcasts from the car. Except for the tire's TPMS sensor codes, Bluetooth MAC, etc. Those can be eliminated too, depending what your level of stealth desires.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
@funnymonkey - which is why every country needs to hurry up & throw out those DMCA-based laws that make it illegal to modify our own things. Because you better believe removing surveillance tech from cars is illegal by those laws.
-
@funnymonkey Given this prevents software updates, emergency response and may invalidate warrantees - surely informing users so they can exercise buyer choice is a better option?
Or if you must do it, have a toggle switch so you can still enable it for updates.
@digdilem @funnymonkey users often don't get a choice because the dealership does the first-run experience that would explain, and even if not, you bought thr car already...
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
I’m waiting for instructions on how to strip cars of all the unnecessary stuff. This applies to both software and hardware. Cars that are stripped down to the bare essentials.
Get rid of all those “convenience” features… mirrors, windows, central locking, etc.
Or an alternative manufacturer offering an open-source car in the “Tin Lizzy” style, with various basic modules that are compatible with each other—e.g., batteries, motors, chassis, and bodywork. Easy to hack and modify.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
The cars surveilling Ownera and surrounding area should be completely illegal. According to DGVSO it is. But there is no action from EU Commission, why, the data is presumably being fed in to predictive policing systems.
Many German vehicles actually have two modules, one is often behind the steering wheel the other usually in infotainment.
-
@digdilem @funnymonkey why the fuck do cars need software updates
@chingalamigra
There is a dangerous GPS bug mentioned in the article. An OTA will probably fix it.…you'll probably will need to wait another three years for it to drop tho…
-
This is an invasion of Privacy. SUE the pants off of all Car Manufactures
@bici @funnymonkey Now I wonder... Say, I borrow a car from my neighbor and drive around a bit. And that car did send telemetry in that time. Maybe he consented, maybe he didn't know, maybe they never asked or he just clicked OK.
Who might be the one on the hook if I were to sue or file a gdpr request for my data? Are car rentals prepared for that scenario? What about a taxi or Uber driver?
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
i predict antisurveillanceremovehardware
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
@funnymonkey I thought I'd keep my Honda Fit forever, but it was totaled and I wound up with a new CR-V. I'm still trying to find a way to disable the Bluetooth and force Android Auto to run through the cable.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
@funnymonkey
Excellent!
Unfortunately my car is on 3-year lease. I'd love to get rid of much of the useless crap on it. The salesguy was so pleased to tell me about all the functionality and gadgets "included At No Extra Cost!!" and shocked when I wanted to refuse them. Sadly, I didn't have a choice. -
I’m waiting for instructions on how to strip cars of all the unnecessary stuff. This applies to both software and hardware. Cars that are stripped down to the bare essentials.
Get rid of all those “convenience” features… mirrors, windows, central locking, etc.
Or an alternative manufacturer offering an open-source car in the “Tin Lizzy” style, with various basic modules that are compatible with each other—e.g., batteries, motors, chassis, and bodywork. Easy to hack and modify.
@bureaux This basic model could be a cargo bike. 🤫
@funnymonkey -
@bureaux This basic model could be a cargo bike. 🤫
@funnymonkey -
@bureaux .... oh ... yes!
@funnymonkey -
@funnymonkey If the data is (maybe) still saved on a local harddrive in the car what happens to the data when you bring the car in for service and the mechanic "connects it to a computer"?
Cheers from Denmark
they can get it, but normally only main dealers have proprietary kit to snag *all* the data and many would only use deeper dives into it for something like denying a warranty claim on a car that has been modified against finance agreement terms.
However its not inconceivable that a lot of data *is* sent up to manufacturers during standard services, as the working of the diagnostic tools used is fairly opaque (even the technicians aren't told exactly how they work, just how to use them!)
But many cars in UK fall out of main dealer network servicing after manufacturer warranty expires and are sent to independent garages for servicing..
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
I've been considering if converting a very late model Commodore to EV, is the best why to get a surveillance free EV sedan.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
It shouldn't be necessary, but it is.
https://arkadiyt.com/2026/05/13/removing-the-modem-and-gps-from-my-rav4/
@funnymonkey they should do the same for televisions.
-
This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
The cars surveilling Ownera and surrounding area should be completely illegal. According to DGVSO it is. But there is no action from EU Commission, why, the data is presumably being fed in to predictive policing systems.
Many German vehicles actually have two modules, one is often behind the steering wheel the other usually in infotainment.
My VW owners manual (and other statements online) openly state that telemetry data is stored in multiple modules across the vehicle, and should the vehicle be involved in an incident it is available to authorities and insurers if they request it, although as its a 2018 vehicle without a SIM card or e-call its not sending real time data to VW (they abandoned this even if you connect your mobile phone as it didn't work with LTE and 3G internet is stopped in most countries)
