Car companies are spreading FUD to try to defeat the Massachusetts right to repair initiative.

The truly dangerous data predators are the car companies themselves. But you can block them, and anyone else that wants to track your car, by converting it into a disconnected car. Disconnect (or cover with metal foil) its cellular antenna and its GPS antenna. If warranty considerations would preclude turning off the antennas, get a car that's out of warranty.

And do vote for the right-to-repair initiative if you live in Massachusetts. Next step: require cars to let the owner control what data to collect and/or make available to anyone.

Ultimately, the computers in the car that can communicate sensitive data, or allow installation of different versions of software, should run exclusively free software and the owner should be able to install modified versions.