Editing Volkswagen Car Location Data Exposure Incident

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In 2024, Volkswagen experienced a data security incident involving customer vehicle information stored on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The incident occurred when Volkswagen's implementation of [[CARIAD]], a system used for storing terabytes of customer data, was discovered to have publicly accessible storage instances due to a misconfiguration<ref name=":0">[https://cybersecuritynews.com/volkswagen-data-breach/]"Volkswagen Data Breach: 800,000 Electric Car Owners’ Data Leaked" written by Guru Baran (co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security). [https://archive.ph/tVDzM Archived] from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved on January 15, 2025.</ref>.
== Background ==

This incident occurred within a broader context of automotive data security concerns. Modern vehicles increasingly collect and transmit various types of data, including location information, driving patterns, and user identification<ref name=":1">[https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2024/05/cars-consumer-data-unlawful-collection-use]"Cars & Consumer Data: On Unlawful Collection & Use" written in collaboration by the Office of Technology and the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240514181955/https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2024/05/cars-consumer-data-unlawful-collection-use Archived] from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.</ref>. The automotive industry has previously faced scrutiny regarding data collection practices, with documented instances of manufacturers collecting and sharing vehicle data with third parties.

== The Incident ==
[[File:Volkswagen.png|alt=Pie Chart showing the total cars affected including the severity of each(whether its location was exposed down to a radius of 10cm or 10km) and breakdown by brand|thumb|Pie Chart showing the total cars affected and breakdown by brand]]
The core issue stemmed from a misconfiguration in Volkswagen's AWS storage implementation, which left customer data publicly accessible without proper authentication or access restrictions<ref name=":0" />. This exposed sensitive information about vehicle locations, EV battery statistics and sensitive customer information.  The incident not only breaches customer trust, but Volkswagen's own Terms of Service. 

== Industry Context ==

The incident highlighted ongoing discussions about automotive data security and privacy. Similar concerns were raised during the [[2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair ballot initiative]], where major automotive manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda invested approximately $25 million in campaign advertising discussing data security implications.

== Regulatory Response ==

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has previously expressed concerns about automotive data security. Following the 2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair initiative, NHTSA official Carrie Gules issued a letter addressing potential security vulnerabilities in vehicle data systems{{Citation needed|date=January 2024|reason=Letter reference needed}}.<!-- I couldn't find any specific letter that was referenced here, although there have been some sources saying that the NHTSA has taken part in Massachusetts Right to Repair regulations. -->

== Broader Implications ==

This incident demonstrates the broader challenges facing the automotive industry regarding data security and privacy. It has been documented that automotive manufacturers regularly collect various types of vehicle data<ref name=":1" />, including:
* Location information
* Driving patterns
* Vehicle operation metrics
* User behavior data

Some manufacturers have established partnerships with data aggregators and insurance companies for data-sharing purposes. For example, General Motors has been documented to share driving data with LexisNexis and insurance companies, including information about:

* Vehicle location data
* Turning radius information
* Stop times
* Drive times

== See Also ==
* [[Automotive data privacy]]
* [[Right to Repair movement]]
* [[Vehicle telematics]]
* [[Connected car security]]
* [[CARIAD]]
* [[Volkswagen Group]]
* [[2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair ballot initiative]]
* [[General Motors Data Theft]]

== References ==
<references />
''Note: This article represents an ongoing situation and may be updated as more information becomes available.''
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3. [https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/volkswagen-konzern-datenleck-wir-wissen-wo-dein-auto-steht-a-e12d33d0-97bc-493c-96d1-aa5892861027 For the link to the news source which was tipped off by a German hacktivist group]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20241227094207/https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/volkswagen-konzern-datenleck-wir-wissen-wo-dein-auto-steht-a-e12d33d0-97bc-493c-96d1-aa5892861027 Archived] from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

4. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agcp37iiWLc&t=188s Youtube video with mentioned credits for more information].
[[Category:Vehicle privacy incidents]]
[[Category:Right to repair]]
[[Category:CARIAD]]
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