Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?
Overall reaction to Rivian’s “disable connectivity” option
- Many see this as unusually user‑respecting for a modern carmaker and a potential reason to consider Rivian.
- Others view it as mostly PR: still inconvenient (service appointment in most regions), and bundled with loss of useful features.
- Comparison is made to software with global “disable AI” toggles: seen as a similar class of user‑respecting setting, but late and partially motivated by backlash.
Privacy vs. connectivity and data collection
- Strong distrust of automotive telemetry: multiple car brands have been caught selling or misusing location and driving data.
- Mozilla’s review of car privacy and examples like “sex life” and “genetic information” in policies are cited as evidence of extreme overreach.
- Several commenters stress that what people really want is to stop collection and retention, not all connectivity or functionality.
- Some argue most buyers don’t care, or see personalized services as fair trade for data.
Safety, emergencies, and remote control
- OnStar‑style crash response is praised by some, who credit it with helping after serious accidents.
- Others counter that phones now provide crash detection, though reliability and in‑crash usability are disputed.
- Concerns about remote disablement of vehicles (by OEMs, governments, or attackers) recur, including hypotheticals about national security and mass disruption.
Lane keeping, navigation, and disabled features
- Rivian’s lane keeping and “highway assist” reportedly depend on up‑to‑date maps / geofencing; disabling connectivity disables these.
- Some see this as a genuine technical constraint for their current implementation; others call it a dark pattern to punish opting out.
- Many find lane keeping annoying or unsafe and consider its loss a bonus; others like it when tuned gently.
- Frustration that navigation and basic safety updates require always‑online systems instead of offline maps and dealer/Wi‑Fi updates.
Hardware workarounds and older/“dumb” cars
- Multiple anecdotes about physically disconnecting telematics modules or antennas (OnStar, Toyota, VW) and using harness kits.
- Some advocate for RF kill‑switches, relays, or simply replacing antennas with resistive loads.
- A sizable group prefers pre‑connectivity cars or low‑tech EVs, viewing modern “computers on wheels” as insecure, over‑complicated, and not truly owner‑controlled.
Regulation, geography, and uneven controls
- Canadian users reportedly get an in‑car toggle; others must visit service, which is widely attributed to stricter local rules.
- Commenters draw parallels with how software and OS vendors only honor privacy‑friendly defaults where regulation forces them.