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Ford has announced a “Privacy Promise” and published a website explaining its vehicle data practices and how customers can deactivate different types of data collection and sharing. The announcement follows a $220 million settlement by General Motors with 36 states over allegations that it sold customer data without consent; Ford’s guidance does not provide a single switch to disable all sharing.
Ford has announced a “Privacy Promise” and published a website explaining its vehicle data practices and how customers can deactivate different forms of data collection and sharing. The announcement came days after General Motors agreed to pay $220 million to 36 states to settle a lawsuit over selling customer data without their consent, putting automakers’ handling of connected-car information in focus.
Ford describes the promise as “an explicit commitment to customers that their vehicle data is safe with us and they’re in control of what they share.” The company’s new website outlines its data practices and provides instructions for changing settings across Ford webpages, its app and its vehicles, according to The Drive’s report.
The site is a source of information and guidance, not a single control panel for all data settings. The Drive says it does not let customers turn all data collection or sharing on or off with one click. Owners may need to review separate instructions and change settings in different places. The report does not specify which data categories are covered or give a full list of the controls available for each vehicle or service.
The announcement follows GM’s agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by 36 states. The reported settlement totals $220 million; the source says drivers will not receive a direct payment. The case concerned the sale of customer data without consent, but the source material does not provide the settlement’s full terms or GM’s response. Ford’s statement is a company pledge, not an independent finding about its data practices.
Connected-Car Data and Owner Controls
Modern vehicles and their associated apps can generate or process information that drivers may want to manage. Ford’s new guidance gives customers a starting point for reviewing where data settings are located and how to change them. But the need to follow instructions across multiple services or vehicle controls may make it harder for owners to understand what they are sharing or to change several choices at once.
The timing also gives the announcement added relevance. GM’s settlement has brought renewed attention to whether drivers understand how their information is used and whether consent is meaningful. Ford’s promise signals that the company wants to address customer concerns, but a pledge and a guidance website do not establish how data is handled in every case. The practical value for customers will depend on the details of the settings, the clarity of the explanations and how the company applies its stated commitment.
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GM Settlement Precedes Ford Pledge
The Drive reported Ford’s announcement in its November 2, 2026, roundup of automotive headlines, saying it came several days after GM agreed to settle the lawsuit. The state settlement was reported as $220 million across 36 states, with no payment to drivers. The source characterizes the dispute as involving the sale of customers’ data without their consent.
Ford’s response, as described in the report, is a public commitment paired with practical instructions rather than a universal opt-out feature. Customers are directed to guidance for multiple parts of Ford’s digital and vehicle ecosystem. The source does not establish whether Ford changed its underlying data practices as part of the announcement, or whether the promise adds enforceable obligations beyond the company’s stated commitment.
““An explicit commitment to customers that their vehicle data is safe with us and they’re in control of what they share.””
— Ford, as quoted in The Drive’s report
Details Behind Ford’s Data Promise
The source does not provide a detailed inventory of the information Ford collects, how long it retains it, or which third parties may receive it. It also does not explain whether settings vary by vehicle model, connected service, location or customer account. Those details are needed to assess how broadly owners can exercise control.
It remains unclear whether Ford’s promise changes company policy or adds commitments beyond the guidance website. The source does not describe any independent review, enforcement mechanism or audit tied to the pledge. It also does not give the full terms of GM’s settlement or details about the lawsuit’s allegations beyond the reported sale of data without customer consent.
Owners Can Review Settings Now
Ford owners can use the company’s website to review instructions for changing data settings on its webpages, in its app and in their vehicles. Because the site does not provide a single switch, customers may need to check each relevant service and vehicle control separately. The report does not identify a later deadline, product change or policy review connected to the pledge.
Further clarity would depend on Ford publishing more specific information about data categories, retention, sharing and the effect of each available setting. Any developments in the GM case or additional state actions could also add detail to the broader debate, but the source provides no timetable for those updates.
Key Questions
What did Ford announce?
Ford announced a “Privacy Promise” and a website outlining its vehicle data practices and instructions for deactivating different types of data collection and sharing.
Can Ford owners turn off all data sharing in one place?
No. The Drive reports that Ford’s website does not offer a single control to turn everything on or off. Customers may need to use separate instructions and settings.
What was the GM settlement?
GM agreed to pay $220 million to 36 states to settle a lawsuit over selling customer data without consent, according to The Drive. The report says drivers will not receive direct payments.
Does Ford’s pledge prove how it handles customer data?
No. The pledge is Ford’s statement about its commitment. The source does not report an independent review or provide enough detail to verify how the promise is applied across Ford’s services and vehicles.
Source: thedrive.com
