Ford: Difference between revisions
Add dedicated In-vehicle advertising patent subsection with link to Ford ad patent article |
update ccpa metrics to 2024, fix repossession and fordpass citations, move orphan competition bureau ref to freedom ford, opt-in language per mozilla |
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:*Aggregates data from external sources as well, including users' social media posts.<ref name=":0" /> | :*Aggregates data from external sources as well, including users' social media posts.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
:*Privacy policy is designed to prevent quickly searching for important terms.<ref name=":0" /> | :*Privacy policy is designed to prevent quickly searching for important terms.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
:*Lack of transparency and control: Users are often unaware of the scope of data collection, and Ford’s policies allow sharing with affiliates, dealers, advertisers, and law enforcement. The company reserves the right to override location settings in certain circumstances (e.g., repossession, legal requests).<ref name=": | :*Lack of transparency and control: Users are often unaware of the scope of data collection, and Ford’s policies allow sharing with affiliates, dealers, advertisers, and law enforcement. The company reserves the right to override location settings in certain circumstances (e.g., repossession, legal requests).<ref name=":0" /> | ||
:*Security vulnerabilities: Past incidents, such as cybersecurity flaws in the FordPass app and exposed customer records, highlight risks of data breaches. Ford has been criticized for dismissing external reports of vulnerabilities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Ford |url=https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/ford/ |website=mozillafoundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223043744/https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/ford/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | :*Security vulnerabilities: Past incidents, such as cybersecurity flaws in the FordPass app and exposed customer records, highlight risks of data breaches. Ford has been criticized for dismissing external reports of vulnerabilities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Ford |url=https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/ford/ |website=mozillafoundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223043744/https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/ford/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
:*According to CCPA Metrics | :*According to Ford's Annual CCPA Metrics for 2024, the company received 137 requests to delete personal information and denied 7.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
===User freedom=== | ===User freedom=== | ||
:*Limited opt-out options: Ford’s default settings opt users into data collection, with no clear path to fully delete data. Passengers and secondary drivers must also be informed of data collection, placing the burden on the primary user.<ref name=":0" /> | :*Limited opt-out options: Ford’s default settings opt users into data collection, with no clear path to fully delete data. Passengers and secondary drivers must also be informed of data collection, placing the burden on the primary user.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
:* | :*Opt-in by default: Connected features accessed via the FordPass app, such as remote start and tire pressure checks, send vehicle data to Ford by default. According to Mozilla's Privacy Not Included review, halting account-linked data sharing requires performing a master reset or removing the VIN from the account.<ref name=":4" /> | ||
===Business model=== | ===Business model=== | ||
:*Data monetization: Ford’s business model leverages user data for targeted advertising, joint marketing, and partnerships (e.g., Sirius XM). This aligns with broader industry trends where data is a revenue driver. | :*Data monetization: Ford’s business model leverages user data for targeted advertising, joint marketing, and partnerships (e.g., Sirius XM). This aligns with broader industry trends where data is a revenue driver. | ||
:*AI and surveillance: Investments in AI (e.g., Baidu’s SYNC system in China) enable deeper user profiling, raising ethical questions about surveillance and consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marr |first=Bernard |date=July 2, 2021 |title=The Amazing Ways The Ford Motor Company Uses Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning |url=https://bernardmarr.com/the-amazing-ways-the-ford-motor-company-uses-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning/ |website= |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219172306/https://bernardmarr.com/the-amazing-ways-the-ford-motor-company-uses-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning/ |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref> | :*AI and surveillance: Investments in AI (e.g., Baidu’s SYNC system in China) enable deeper user profiling, raising ethical questions about surveillance and consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marr |first=Bernard |date=July 2, 2021 |title=The Amazing Ways The Ford Motor Company Uses Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning |url=https://bernardmarr.com/the-amazing-ways-the-ford-motor-company-uses-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning/ |website= |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219172306/https://bernardmarr.com/the-amazing-ways-the-ford-motor-company-uses-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning/ |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
===Market control=== | ===Market control=== | ||
:*Dealership consolidation: | :*Dealership consolidation: Ownership groups that already hold multiple dealerships have acquired Ford-branded outlets, such as 1911265 Alberta Ltd.'s 2016 acquisition of Freedom Ford Sales Limited. Canada's Competition Bureau reviewed the Freedom Ford transaction and issued a No Action Letter on January 29, 2016, concluding that effective remaining competitors made a substantial lessening of competition unlikely.<ref name=":freedomford-cb">{{Cite web |title=Acquisition of Freedom Ford Sales Limited by 1911265 Alberta Ltd. |url=https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/position-statements/acquisition-freedom-ford-sales-limited-1911265-alberta-ltd |website=Competition Bureau Canada |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250820052528/https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/position-statements/acquisition-freedom-ford-sales-limited-1911265-alberta-ltd |archive-date=20 Aug 2025}}</ref> | ||
:*Dependence on connected services: By integrating AI and IoT (e.g., autonomous vehicles, CarStory analytics), Ford reinforces market dominance in connected car technology, potentially stifling smaller competitors. | :*Dependence on connected services: By integrating AI and IoT (e.g., autonomous vehicles, CarStory analytics), Ford reinforces market dominance in connected car technology, potentially stifling smaller competitors. | ||
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*Engineering practices | *Engineering practices | ||
**Ford suffered a significant hit to its reputation regarding the Pinto, a car the company sold through the entire 1970's decade and the company's first subcompact. A number of high-profile incidents happened involving the cars getting rear-ended and subsequently lighting on fire due to the fuel tank rupturing and spilling gas; in subsequent lawsuits and criminal cases, Ford was accused of knowing the cars had a defect and deciding not to fix it based on an internal cost-benefit analysis that supposedly found it far cheaper to settle the lawsuits than actually fix the defect. | **Ford suffered a significant hit to its reputation regarding the Pinto, a car the company sold through the entire 1970's decade and the company's first subcompact. A number of high-profile incidents happened involving the cars getting rear-ended and subsequently lighting on fire due to the fuel tank rupturing and spilling gas; in subsequent lawsuits and criminal cases, Ford was accused of knowing the cars had a defect and deciding not to fix it based on an internal cost-benefit analysis that supposedly found it far cheaper to settle the lawsuits than actually fix the defect. | ||
**Some engine designs use a rubber | **Some engine designs use a rubber belt, rather than a metal chain, to drive the oil pump. This belt operates submerged in engine oil and may wear out prematurely, potentially leading to a sudden loss of oil pressure. Additionally, they have released transmission systems in certain ''Fiesta'' and ''Focus'' models that have experienced issues, including loss of power during acceleration, gear shifting, or at constant speeds, as well as unintended acceleration. It has been reported that a software update rendered a vehicle inoperable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Braithwaite-Smith |first=Gavin |date=February 23, 2026 |title=BBC Watchdog shines light on Ford EcoBoost wet belt problem |url=https://garagewire.co.uk/news/bbc-watchdog-ford-ecoboost-wet-belt-problem/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223043859/https://garagewire.co.uk/news/bbc-watchdog-ford-ecoboost-wet-belt-problem/ |archive-date=February 23, 2026 |website=garagewire.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Phoebe Wall |date=July 11, 2019 |title=Ford knew Focus, Fiesta models had flawed transmission, sold them anyway |url=https://www.freep.com/in-depth/money/cars/ford/2019/07/11/ford-focus-fiesta-transmission-defect/1671198001/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221023357/https://www.freep.com/in-depth/money/cars/ford/2019/07/11/ford-focus-fiesta-transmission-defect/1671198001/ |archive-date=February 21, 2026 |website=Detroit Free Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2023 |title=Automatic Software Update Bricked my Truck |url=https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/automatic-software-update-bricked-my-truck.96624/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250415151514/https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/automatic-software-update-bricked-my-truck.96624/ |archive-date=April 15, 2025 |website=www.fordraptorforum.com}}</ref> | ||
**Ford has had the highest number of vehicle recalls in the U.S. in 2021, 2022, and 2023. While recall volume can be influenced by market share, larger automakers often have more recalls, it may also reflect differences in production quality compared to competitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHTSA Recalls by Manufacturer |url=https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/38mw-dp8u/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203181946/https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/38mw-dp8u/ |archive-date=February 3, 2026 |website=datahub.transportation.gov}}</ref> | **Ford has had the highest number of vehicle recalls in the U.S. in 2021, 2022, and 2023. While recall volume can be influenced by market share, larger automakers often have more recalls, it may also reflect differences in production quality compared to competitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHTSA Recalls by Manufacturer |url=https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/38mw-dp8u/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203181946/https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/38mw-dp8u/ |archive-date=February 3, 2026 |website=datahub.transportation.gov}}</ref> | ||