this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2024
132 points (91.2% liked)

Technology

59271 readers
3845 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

https://therecord.media/ford-patent-application-in-vehicle-listening-advertising

Looks like Ford just voted to NOT be my choice of car vendor in future.

However getting this patent could be used by Ford to prevent such systems from beeing used by all vendors, but thats veery unlikely i guess.

all 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This has some serious "idiocracy" vibes

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Nah, it's just a lawyer with no active cases looking for a bonus.

[–] [email protected] 50 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We say this now but in 5 years, cars could go the way of smart TVs... sold at prices subsidized by advertisers.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 months ago (1 children)

LOL, imagine thinking that TVs are actually subsidized and that the spyware isn't just extra pure profit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Lol they absolutely are subsidized. Look how expensive non-smart TVs are new

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Last I checked, Sceptre TVs are price-competitive with other brands, if not even cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Afaik they're a discount brand? That you have to buy from Newegg? But I'm glad there is at least one option!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

If they don't included tracking, recording, spying, and advertising, they're premium at this point.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If they patent it and don't use it or sell it, I'm OK with it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Maybe we should have a nonprofit that patents terrible ideas and sues companies that would implement them. Maybe I should patent The Torment Nexus...

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Companies patent dumb ideas all the time with no real intention to develop them. No harm in mocking them for it, but I wouldn’t be ringing alarm bells unless they actually start implementing it in their vehicles.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago

No harm in mocking them for it, but I wouldn’t be ringing alarm bells unless they actually start implementing it in their vehicles.

Right. This is what I'm not understanding though. Ford is the only brand I'm aware of where disabling telemetry/radios is as simple as pulling a fuse on many models of their cars (https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/experience-with-disabling-the-telematics-control-unit-module.36040/, https://www.fordtremor.com/threads/disabling-the-modem-pulling-the-fuse.7101/). The other brands don't make it that easy at all where you'd need to modify the radio/antenna yourself (and disassembling a bunch of shit just for the opportunity to do that).

[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 months ago

Now is the perfect time to raise alarms loudly and publicly so they understand how upset people will be before investing.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Ford, the new Soviet spy vehicle. Why worry about big brother when you can own a Ford 4x4.