Ford Pass new Terms and Privacy Policy agreement.

[Maxx]

Have any of you guys actually read this? Any lawyers in the house? What rubs you the wrong way the most? What does me tapping on “I accept” mean in real life when Ford (or someone they shared my data with) do something screwed up with my data? If I don’t click on accept, how do I know if they are not doing it anyway?

These questions are not for people that are already comfortable sharing everything with everyone. And not an invitation to tell me relax. It is for those that have some privacy concerns already.

Sponsored

 

[Jim Lewis]

If anyone else wants to look up the new terms, go to the FordPass app Account page (tap top right), Settings (middle left), then Legal/Terms and Privacy Policy.

The part that struck me about the revised policy (has it been there all along?) is that towards the bottom of the first scrollable page is the following advisory, set off in italics:

always take your key or key fob with you, and check your in-vehicle systems if any information in FordPass doesn’t seem right

Found it pretty striking to have Ford put in writing what I've felt all along was a problem with both FordPass app reliability and PAAK.

At least as far as privacy goes, Ford hasn't yet decided to use FordPass as an avenue for delivering ads big-time. The word "enshittification" has entered the English language recently ( Enshittification - Wikipedia) and it's pretty annoying how ads have been creeping into Windows 11. Got a deluge of Black Friday Amazon app notifications (ads), too. Ring wants to sell me solar panels through its app every time I turn around, etc. Can Ford be far behind?

 

[Maxx]

Found it pretty striking to have Ford put in writing what I've felt all along was a problem with both FordPass app reliability and PAAK.

Ford pass app info is second hand and I always considered it a convenience addition rather than something I can count on. Sometimes, I have to refresh twice to get the correct info. In vehicle things are not perfect either. I always have to save one time charging limit twice to show up on instrument cluste.


On data sharing, Farley’s eyes were glowing from the first day with the potential to monetize access to us and I am sure he has made promises on that regard. Even if Ford’s intentions had some moral limits on to what extent they will sell us out, I don’t have much faith in their ability to execute safely.

On a less philosophical level, I have some questions:

1 - If I decide not accept the terms, will I lose the ability to use my 250 KWh EA DCFC or there is another way outside the app to use it?

2 - when you limit data sharing in the truck, does it collect and not share? Or it does not collect when those settings are off? In other words if you temporarily turn on data sharing so you can use some functionality that was taken hostage, will all the data that was collected during off period be sent to the mothership? Or those settings are just for us to feel good about control and data is shared regardless of settings anyway? Is there any way to check?

 

[Danface]

Just unplug the TCU and use your phone. Look at no-root firewalls or root your android and install a firewall and Adaway ....

Sponsored