This post is awesome, and I predict aftermarket shops offering to remove car surveillance to spring up in the next few years.
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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.
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@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...
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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.
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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.
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@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…
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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?
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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
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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.
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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..
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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/
Very good information indeed!
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@funnymonkey great post, but lots of work and risk of f-ing up your car. So who's actually going to do it? Just like there should be an aftermarket for this sort of work, there should be a manufacturer, who offers no surveillance cars. Better yet government needs to pass laws with stiff penalties that mandate easy and thorough disabling of all spyware in cars and on phones. Fat chances of this happening in the US of A or in China!
@RulesBuster @funnymonkey Yes please. I should start looking for a new vehicle and the RAV4 is top of a very short list. I am not buying until I know all this shit can be disabled. Ideally by a pro not me
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@funnymonkey I’ll just keep driving my 1998 Jeep. It still had the original cassette player when I bought it …
@teacher_rick @funnymonkey My car is a bit newer but crank windows, actual keys, standard transmission and a CD player with the same CD stuck since 2020. I loooove it.
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@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 I wouldn’t trust a toggle switch
