Your Car Is Watching. The FTC Just Proved It Wasn't Only Toyota.

What the FTC Just Did

On January 14, 2026 — five weeks before my CNN story ran — the FTC finalized its first-ever enforcement order on connected vehicle data against General Motors, GM Holdings, and OnStar. GM enrolled customers in "Smart Driver" by marketing it as a tool to improve driving habits. What customers weren't told: GM intended to sell that data — every hard brake, every late-night drive, every instance of speeding — to consumer reporting agencies, who compiled it into reports insurance companies used to deny coverage, cancel policies, or raise rates. The FTC banned GM from sharing that data with consumer reporting agencies for five years and ordered affirmative consent before any data collection. These aren't voluntary changes. They're court-ordered.

Why This Matters Beyond GM and Toyota

The FTC stated in its own guidance: car manufacturers — and all businesses — should take note that the FTC will take action against the illegal collection, use, and disclosure of personal data. GM and Toyota aren't outliers. They're the ones who got caught. The same infrastructure, the same incentive to monetize driving data, and the same buried fine print exist across virtually every major automaker in America.

What You Should Know About Your Own Car

The FTC found that GM's enrollment process was so confusing some consumers didn't know they'd been signed up. That's not a bug — it's how these programs are designed. If you drive a connected vehicle, ask:

• —Has your automaker enrolled you in a data-sharing program?
• —Is your driving behavior being transmitted to third parties?
• —Have your insurance rates changed in ways you can't explain?

The FTC says you have the right to know, opt out, and delete. Most people have never been told that.

The Pattern Is the Story

When my story broke, people told me I was an outlier. The FTC just made it official: I wasn't. The same week I discovered Progressive had my braking data, the federal government was finalizing an order against GM for doing the exact same thing to millions of drivers. This is a business model — not an accident.