Data from Tesla’s vehicle telematics and a rented Cybertruck are proving crucial in the investigation of the explosion that occurred in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. This information highlights significant privacy concerns regarding how personal travel details are monitored by governments and corporations, something that wasn’t possible decades ago.

On Wednesday morning, the Cybertruck was parked outside the International Trump Hotel when the explosion took place, resulting in injuries to seven people. The driver, identified as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, tragically took his own life just before the vehicle exploded. Inside the Cybertruck, authorities later found fuel canisters, fireworks, and two semi-automatic firearms; the vehicle had been rented on December 28 from Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing service, in Colorado.

Authorities are still investigating whether this incident was an act of terrorism and have traced the Cybertruck’s journey from Denver to Las Vegas using records from Tesla charging stations and other data that manufacturers frequently collect.

On Wednesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to X to clarify that the explosion was not due to the Cybertruck itself. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of explosion,” Musk stated in a tweet.

The ability to closely track the Vegas bomber’s movements highlights how pervasive technology is in today’s digital world, showing how people’s journeys and behaviors can be monitored. As contemporary vehicles come equipped with complex computer systems, motorists increasingly find that their driving behavior is constantly recorded and scrutinized, leading to ethical and privacy concerns among tech experts.

“Most consumers genuinely don’t realize what information is being collected,” explained Jodi Daniels, founder and CEO of Red Clover Advisors, a privacy consultancy firm. “Many think it’s just about filling up with gas, charging, and driving, without understanding the role of computers, data, and cameras.”

Modern vehicles come loaded with onboard computers that enable features like navigation, app-based unlocking, camera recording, and autonomous driving capabilities. “People often forget these are not the simple cars of the past; they’re entirely different, reliant on data collection and storage,” she noted.

However, a critical question arises: Who owns this data?

“If I buy, rent, or lease the vehicle, do I have ownership of that data? Or does the manufacturer?” Daniels questioned. Automakers and dealerships typically analyze data from millions of drivers to enhance vehicle performance and safety features. Nevertheless, the data collection’s ethical implications can often fall into a “grey area,” according to Daniels.

A lawsuit was filed against General Motors by the Texas Attorney General in August, alleging that the automaker breached Texans’ privacy rights by selling driver data to insurance companies without consent, often resulting in increased premiums.

Many drivers agree to data collection, often unaware that they have a choice to opt-out, as privacy policies can be ambiguous and confusing, Daniels pointed out. Even for those who have consented, policies can change, meaning their original permissions might not reflect how their data is actually utilized. “It’s essential that these companies responsibly balance data collection with consumer safety and their own interests, prioritizing customer needs,” she said.

Daniels referred to this situation as an “education gap,” noting that people frequently overlook the vast amounts of digital data around them. “Individuals download various apps daily without contemplating the ramifications,” she added.

Tesla’s Customer Privacy Notice indicates that their vehicles “generate vehicle, diagnostic, infotainment system, and Autopilot data,” but they claim that this data is not linked to individual identities or accounts by default, including recordings from cameras. The notice also states that Tesla may share information with service providers, business partners, third parties authorized by the user, and other required parties by law.

Tesla has not responded to YSL News’s request for a statement.

“There’s a troubling history regarding the misuse of data collected by Tesla about its drivers,” noted Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Reports from 2019 to 2022 indicated that Tesla employees were inappropriately sharing sensitive videos and recordings from customer vehicles, even capturing private incidents including road rage and nudity, based on interviews with nine former employees by Reuters.

Regarding law enforcement requests, many companies provide data when presented with a court order or warrant. Last year, some Tesla vehicles were towed by Oakland Police to gather information that could assist investigations relating to local crimes.

Galperin emphasized that because the Cybertruck linked to the explosion was rented, it’s expected that every possible tracking feature was activated, unlike personal vehicles.

Currently, there are no federal regulations dedicated to the privacy of data collected by vehicles, although some states, like California, have enacted certain protections. “I doubt there will be any federal legislation addressing this in the next four years,” she remarked.

“It’s been years,” stated Galperin.

As technology in the automotive industry evolves and vehicles like the Cybertruck with self-driving capabilities become commonplace, worries about privacy are expected to increase.

“There are various levels of surveillance, with numerous potential risks not only from cybercriminals but also from abusers in domestic violence situations, as well as from government entities and law enforcement,” she explained. “People have valid concerns about their vehicles and currently lack adequate safeguarding.”