How to escape Honda's privacy hell

Desire for “Dumb” Cars and Devices

• Many miss pre‑“smart” tech: cars with buttons/knobs, TVs without connectivity, phones usable one‑handed, appliances without Wi‑Fi.
• Such products exist mainly in commercial markets (e.g., rental trucks) and tend to be more expensive.
• Some doubt the “pendulum” will swing back; others hope market or regulation will eventually reward simplicity.

Telemetry Is Widespread, Not Just Honda

• Commenters stress that most modern car brands collect extensive data; privacy reviews rate cars as especially bad.
• Some mention specific makers (Kia/Hyundai, GM, Nissan, Tesla, etc.) as problematic; Volvo is cited as a possible bright spot.
• Even buyers trying to pick a “less bad” car find there may be no truly good option.

Opt‑Outs and What Actually Works

• Honda: some owners say telemetry opt‑out is presented clearly at first boot and easy to disable, with only a persistent warning icon as a dark pattern.
• Others, including the linked article, report a more confusing, app‑based process and lingering doubts about whether data collection really stops.
• Lower trims without cellular modems may avoid some tracking. HondaLink is the branded telematics system; compatibility varies by model/year.
• In California, people plan to use CCPA rights to demand data access, deletion, and opt‑out; some advocate mass requests to raise costs.

Physical Disabling and Workarounds

• Popular idea: locate and unplug, fuse, shield, or otherwise block the cellular modem or GPS antenna.
• Counterpoints: may break infotainment, emergency call features, or other functions; may (or may not) affect warranty in practice.
• Some propose more advanced hacks: dummy loads on antennas, fake CAN buses feeding benign data, or a public database/aftermarket shop specializing in telemetry removal.

Regulation, Law, and Regional Differences

• Calls for a “privacy bill of rights” or human‑rights framing; GDPR is cited as a partial model but criticized for implementation‑heavy focus.
• In the EU, eCall emergency telematics is mandatory; there’s debate whether disabling it is actually illegal or just discouraged.
• Skepticism that governments will robustly protect privacy, given their own surveillance interests.

Broader “Smart Everything” Backlash

• Similar complaints about TVs and appliances with non‑disablable Wi‑Fi and data collection.
• Some see this as profit‑driven “enshittification”: connectivity added mainly for data monetization and marketing differentiation, not user value.