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Ford has launched a Privacy Promise website explaining what connected vehicle data it collects and how drivers can turn off sharing. Ford says opting out can create a “quasi-’80s mode” experience, but some connected features will no longer work. The exact opt-out process and feature-by-feature effects may vary by vehicle.
Ford has launched a Privacy Promise website that explains what connected-vehicle information it collects and how drivers can opt out of sharing data with the automaker. Ford Chief Privacy Officer Kristin Jones described the intended result as a “quasi-’80s mode”: a less-connected driving experience that gives up some online features in exchange for limiting data sharing.
Ford says the information collected can vary by model and may include location data, driving characteristics and diagnostic information, along with other data generated through the vehicle or the Ford smartphone app. The new site describes how the company uses that information and how owners can turn data sharing off. The source report does not provide a complete, model-by-model list of data or settings.
Opting out can affect functions that depend on a connection. The report says drivers who disable connected navigation, internet connectivity and location features in the Ford app may lose related functionality, including live traffic information. Ford’s explanation is that a car cannot withhold its location from the company while also relying on connected services that need location or other information to work.
Jones told Automotive News that Ford’s goal is to let people who do not want to share connected data with the company opt out and have an older-style experience. The company also says it uses data to help tailor vehicle features to what owners want. The report does not say that all vehicle functions are affected by an opt-out, or that every Ford model offers the same controls.
The Cost of Disconnecting
The policy gives Ford owners a stated choice over connected-data sharing, but that choice involves a practical trade-off: less data sharing can mean fewer connected services. Drivers who depend on live traffic, app-based location features or other online functions will need to weigh those conveniences against their privacy preferences.
The issue also reflects a broader change in what a vehicle does. Connected cars can produce information about location, driving and vehicle condition, while manufacturers can use online services to add functions or tailor features. Ford’s disclosure matters because it puts the company’s stated data practices and opt-out option in front of owners, rather than treating connectivity as an invisible part of vehicle use. It does not, by itself, establish how every data setting works in practice.
There may also be a business consequence. The source report notes that Ford has discussed digital subscriptions as a potential source of revenue. If a vehicle is used without connected services, some subscription-based offerings may be less relevant or unavailable; the report does not specify how opting out would affect subscriptions or revenue for individual owners.
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Ford’s Data Disclosure Amid Scrutiny
Ford’s website arrives amid increased attention to automakers’ handling of driver information. The source report points to a $220 million settlement involving General Motors over allegations related to sharing driver data with brokers through its Smart Driver program. The report says the program was alleged to have operated from 2016 to 2024. That case concerns GM; it is not evidence that Ford engaged in the same conduct.
Ford’s stated position is that it is not in the business of selling driver data, and the company presents the Privacy Promise site as a transparency and choice measure. Jones told Automotive News that trust depends on transparency and said Ford’s job is to be as transparent as it can be. Those are company statements; the site’s launch does not independently verify all data practices or settle questions about how the information is handled across every service.
The “quasi-’80s” phrase refers to a reduced-connectivity experience, not a claim that a modern Ford becomes identical to a vehicle from that decade. A driver may still use ordinary vehicle functions while losing services that depend on a data connection. Which features remain available will depend on the vehicle, its equipment and the settings selected.
“Our ultimate goal is that, for someone who does not want to share any connected data with Ford at all, they can opt out and essentially create a quasi-’80s mode car.”
— Kristin Jones, Ford chief privacy officer, in a statement to Automotive News
Opt-Out Details by Model
The source report does not list the exact steps for opting out or specify which settings and services are affected on each model. It also does not clarify whether some data collection continues for functions such as diagnostics, safety, legal compliance or basic vehicle operation after a driver turns off connected sharing. Owners will need to consult Ford’s site and the information for their specific vehicle to determine what an opt-out covers.
Ford’s statement that it does not sell driver data is a company claim. The source material does not provide independent verification, a detailed accounting of data recipients, or a full explanation of retention periods. It is also unclear how opting out could affect access to digital subscriptions or other connected services over time.
Owners Can Review Ford’s Controls
Ford owners can use the new Privacy Promise website to review the company’s descriptions of data collection and sharing controls, then check the settings available for their vehicle and Ford app. Before disabling connectivity, drivers should identify which features they rely on, especially navigation, live traffic and location-based services.
Further detail from Ford would help clarify how controls differ across vehicles, what data remains in use after an opt-out, and whether connected subscriptions are affected. The source report does not identify a deadline for additional disclosures or a forthcoming policy change beyond the website launch.
Key Questions
What did Ford announce?
Ford launched a Privacy Promise website that explains connected-vehicle data it may collect, how the company uses it, and how drivers can opt out of sharing data.
What does Ford mean by “quasi-’80s mode”?
Ford privacy chief Kristin Jones used the phrase for a less-connected vehicle experience for drivers who do not want to share connected data with Ford. It does not mean every feature in a modern vehicle will work exactly as it would in an older car.
What might stop working if a driver opts out?
Some services that depend on connectivity may lose functionality. The report names connected navigation, internet connectivity and location features, and says live traffic information may be affected. The exact effects can vary by model.
What kinds of data may Ford collect?
Depending on the vehicle, Ford says the information may include location, driving characteristics and diagnostic data, as well as other connected data collected through the vehicle and the Ford app.
Does Ford’s website prove how all data is handled?
No. The site gives Ford’s account of its practices and controls, but the source report does not independently verify every claim or provide full details on data retention, recipients or exceptions to opting out.
Source: insideevs.com
