According to experts, if Ford cars start running on Android, Google could gain access to our data in a different way.
A stern warning about technology and privacy in the car
Ford and Google have formed a partnership called Team Upshift to bring Android to Ford vehicles in 2023 and work on future updates. Based on Ford’s blog post about the partnership, it appears that Google will take over Ford’s operating system duties, allowing Ford engineers to work on “unique Ford and Lincoln customer innovations.” It’s convenient for users and for Ford, but there are two problems. One is Android’s security, and the other is Google itself.
"Google will likely try to profit from the data it gets from drivers," Paul Bischoff, a privacy attorney at Comparitech, told Lifewire via email. "The Google Maps integration alone is a huge trove of valuable data that Google can use to track drivers' locations, traffic conditions, and even who they're traveling with. This data is then used for advertising."
For Ford, it is useful that Android is also used for the non-driving parts of a car, because the car manufacturer can integrate the system into them.
