More Than a Nosy Neighbor, This is A Giant Size Overreach
Why would a car manufacturer ever want to know about your sex life, religious beliefs, or even genetic composition?
Kia is boldly charting territories that not even George Orwell could have imagined in a world that is routinely tossing privacy and personal space out the window.
As you examine their newly updated privacy policy, effective January 1, 2023, you might find that KIA could be more informed about a customer’s personal details than their family, doctors, spiritual leaders, or therapists – all put together!
After perusing their Privacy Policy, it seems fitting that Kia should choose The Police’s famous track, “Every Breath You Take (I’ll Be Watching You),” as their brand’s theme song.
Let’s dissect the grim details, shall we?
Now, there’s the usual slew of information one might expect to be collected – your name and address, where you work, and age. But why would a car company also need to know your genetic information? Physical characteristics? Or passport number?
They proclaim, “Your privacy is important to Kia,” but the information they seek is typically reserved for a Supreme Being.
From mental disabilities to Social Security numbers and even personal tendencies – Kia will collect it if you agree to their Privacy Policy. And for what purpose? To help drive our cars better? I doubt it.
Here’s something even more eyebrow-raising. They openly admit to collecting information like religious or philosophical beliefs.
In what world does Kia, a car company, need to know your religious beliefs? Are they introducing Sunday morning sermons in their in-car entertainment systems? I bet not.
Moreover, their online activity tracking is another beast entirely.
Browsing history, search history, interactions with various websites and apps – all is fair game for Kia’s ever-hungry database.
It’s enough to make anyone’s skin crawl!
Consider this situation: You’re privately researching a surprise anniversary journey for your spouse. Suddenly, your car reminds you to complete that romantic excursion. Surprise intimate break? Ruined.
And seriously, who would want Kia staff scanning through your personal emails just because you inadvertently consented to their privacy policy?
Yes, that message you sent about your recent medical condition? Kia says it can collect that data.
Buying a car nowadays is akin to a stranger invading your house, listening to your conversations, leafing through your private correspondence, and knowing everything there is to know about you.
And don’t even get me started on financial security.
In a world where we strive to keep our financial data under lock and key, Kia is looking for the master key. Agreeing to their Privacy Policy will allow complete strangers at Kia to know your credit card details, including those sacred security access codes.
Kia even collects information on customer purchases.
What next? Will your car refuse to start if you purchase a McDonald’s Big Mac over making that next car payment?
What about your job histories?
Your promotions, your achievements, your struggles, all are laid bare. Your medical conditions, even your health insurance details – all can be a part of Kia’s data dossier by agreeing to its Privacy Policy.
Kia’s methods to collect this information are unclear, though it has access to a customer’s data whenever that person logs on to their site or one of their Third-party sites (whoever they are).
We all have personal boundaries, limits to what we share with the world.
Personal text messages, intricate job histories, medical conditions, and even sensitive health insurance information – areas no car company should venture into, are all seemingly on the table for Kia’s taking and…
…for the selling!
Upon consumer request, Kia promises to let you know who they sell or share that information with, though that helpful information is buried deep in the Privacy Policy.
Here’s the kicker: They even hint at collecting “Sensitive Personal Information.” This includes precise geolocation and even data about one’s sex life or sexual orientation.
I repeat, why does a car company need to know about your sex life or what gender you’re having sex with, and to whom would they be selling that salacious information?
And after they gather all this information, they claim the right to share it with third parties, partners, affiliates, and who knows who else.
Suddenly, buying a car seems more like an audition for a reality TV show where every move, every click, and preference is recorded.
To be clear, it’s not unusual for companies to collect data on their users. However, based on this policy, the sheer breadth of what Kia could potentially know about you and your life is, at the very least, unsettling.
So, America, when considering the purchase of a new car, remember you might be getting more than a vehicle. You might be getting a mobile surveillance unit equipped to know you way too intimately.
And the next time you think about agreeing to a Privacy Policy without reading it – think twice. You might just be signing away a lot more than you’d expect.
