this post was submitted on 17 Jun 2024
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Does anyone know about the legality of removing the built-in sim cards from your car, specifically in Australia?

I don't intend on using any car smart-features when I get one. For context, I've never owned a car. When I do get one though, I intend to remove the sim card to prevent the car's location from being constantly tracked. All I care about in terms a cars functionality is a radio, a CD drive (Yes, I use CD's), and Bluetooth audio, so I don't think removing the sim card should affect this much, if at all. Any knowledge and advice would be appreciated, thankyou!

Update: What I was referring to is an eSim, which appears not to be in the form of a physical card. Even so, if possible, I would like to disable the functionality of this eSim assuming the car I purchase has one in-built. From my research, I cannot find anything that explicitly forbids disabling or removing Sims.

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[–] scottmeme@sh.itjust.works 31 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If it's a newer car, it's unlikely that it will even have a physical sim and instead use esim.

Source: did work for a major automaker and talked to people on the teams involved

Find a car that isn't supported for network features anymore is my primary suggestion. (Using the 3g network or before)

[–] DreitonLullaby@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Thanks, I didn't know the eSims weren't physical cards.

Btw, 3G network is shutting down extremely soon for both Optus and Telstra (and providers using their networks), so I won't be able to do that with any future car. Telstra is going on August 31, Optus is going in September. Your phone probably isn't locked to 3G, but even if your phone supports 4G and/or 5G but does not support a technology called "VoLTE", you may not be able to call emergency services after the 3G closure date. Both Telstra and Optus have provided an option to easily check if your phone is compatible after the closure. Using either Optus, Telstra, or other providers using their network, you can text 3 to the number 3498 and they will send you an automated message telling you whether your phone will be affected after the closure or not.

https://www.optus.com.au/support/mobiles-tablets-wearables/important-changes-3g

https://www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure

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[–] dnls@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago

I doubt any modern car with those features have a physical sim card you can remove. They are probably all using some sort of esim. On some cars the antennas can be unplugged but that depends on the specific model. If you're unlucky, you will not even be able to remove the tracking features at all because they are integrated with other components needed to function.

With regards to the legality of that, I unfortunately cant help you there. Probably best to search for local cases or ask a local lawyer.

Your best option in probably buing a used car thats old enogh not to track you. Hope that helps a bit

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

As others have said it will likely be an ESIM or similar solution because there isn't a need for the manufacturer to support physical SIMs.

Regarding being tracked though, Australia has ANPR just like most other developed countries, you will be trackable even if your car was just a Flintstones car with a numberplate.

I'd also add if you've got a phone in your pocket, that's just as trackable

[–] DeltaTangoLima@reddrefuge.com 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is more about the car maker harvesting data, rather than just tracking the car. Car makers have been (quietly) building more tech into their cars to collect data for the purposes of selling it to third parties. It's effectively the enshittification of cars.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-09/toyota-car-brands-collecting-driver-data-privacy-concerns-laws/103443500

[–] Wooki@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

It’s not Toyota it’s all of them and Mozilla did a much better report

[–] escew@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I’m interested in this topic as well. I know I’m being tracked on my phone, but I’m much more confident my phone manufacturer is not selling/giving my data to police or insurance companies. Those are who I’m concerned with tracking me.

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

but I’m much more confident my phone manufacturer is not selling/giving my data to police or insurance companies

Without a doubt they are absolutely doing this.

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Apple is the manufacturer who makes the biggest hoo-ha over privacy, yet they gave user data to the police 90% of the time (Google was surprisingly lower at 80%)

Plus if you have a subscription to a mobile cellular network, as basically everyone with a phone does, that will also be constantly tracking you (and I believe also directly available to the police).

That's all without going into whether you trust every single third party app on your phone and every website you visit.

[–] Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

You sort of left out a lot of context with that statistic that the article did include. Apple gets significantly fewer requests because the data they have is far less useful, that is generally a plus.

Cellular location data from the provider generally requires a warrant unless there are exigent circumstances. There has been a lot of controversy recently about warrants being granted that are too broad, the “every phone in this wide area” thing, but they are still warrants being granted by courts vs direct access.

That sort of “tell me every phone in the vicinity of this location” is the sort of request that Google typically has the data to fulfill and Apple generally does not (though the cell provider might).

[–] bl_r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 week ago

It’s not just the phone manufacturer, but the mobile carrier, and apps with access to your location (like weather apps, or map apps)

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[–] jet@hackertalks.com 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I can't speak to the legality, but if you own the vehicle 100%, I can't see removing parts from the vehicle being illegal as long as they don't impinge on road safety.

I would recommend removing more than just the SIM card, if the radios have their own fuse, take the fuse out, or physically remove the radios themselves.

[–] pHr34kY@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yep. It's your car to do with it what you want. The ADRs (Australian Design Rules) only apply at point of sale. Once it's yours, it merely needs meet roadworthy requirements. As long as you keep a functioning speedo, wipers and lights, you can rip out every bit of electronics in the car.

[–] ealoe@ani.social 10 points 1 week ago (3 children)

You'd better be leaving your phone at home every time you drive that car or you've defeated the point

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 40 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not necessarily true. Don't let perfection be the enemy of good enough. Limiting the number of organizations that have your data is a good thing. There's no reason the car vendor needs that data

[–] doona@aussie.zone 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Why would a car manufacturer give you cellular service for free? If you don’t pay for subscriptions, surely they’re not seeing any of your car’s data?

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The telemetry from your car has value, plus if they control your infotainment system they can constantly try to upsell you to subscribe or buy other features.

Not to mention when we're talking about on a car manufacturer, they can negotiate fleet-wide data access for all the vehicles. With an agreement with the manufacturer that if the user actually buys data access for themselves, they split the profit with the carrier

[–] doona@aussie.zone 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So new cars have always-on cellular connectivity regardless of subscriptions paid? That’s insane. The auto industry is a genuine menace.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Not all new cars. But some. Whenever you get a vehicle, it's probably a good idea to buy one of those aftermarket service manuals sold to car mechanics for your make and model. Then you can verify radio repair etc etc and what circuits to take out etc

Besides if you're trying to do information upsell, you don't want your customer to have to go to a cell phone store and buy a SIM card and put it in the car. That's extra friction they might change their mind. You want it to be always on and available, so they can just consent and get into the funnel

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Also there’s many more settings on a phone to disable share your location for most uses vs on a car where it seems like your location goes straight to insurance companies.

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[–] Hildegarde@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Research the fuses on the car. The smart systems or modem can most likely be disabled by removing power to them.

[–] Arcka@midwest.social 6 points 1 week ago

Or if the fuses apply to too broad of a system, the wireless modem should be able to be disconnected.

Manufacturers like to implement this capability using modules which can be used across their lines of vehicles. Here's an example for a 2017 Silverado, but you'd want to research service manuals / diagrams for the vehicle you're considering buying: https://www.silveradosierra.com/threads/2017-silverado-removed-lte-modem.660593/

[–] DeltaTangoLima@reddrefuge.com 4 points 1 week ago

Unfortunately, any mobile data component likely to be integrated with something more integral to the car, like the entire entertainment/climate control interface, or something equally difficult/impossible to drive without.

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] c0mmando@links.hackliberty.org 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

the modem or mobile router in the car is what can be tracked by telcos via IMEI pings with or without an ESIM. telematics units can be disabled by pulling fuses and you should also call to opt out with most car manufacturers.

[–] MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I suggest using public transport since that is almost impossible to do

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Are you sure your car actually has a simcard?

edit rereading I see youre asking about a potential car for the future.

I found very little info- except this, which hints at having network connectivity without a simcard (and also discusses swapping sims). But I found very little else

https://intotomorrow.com/can-you-swap-the-sim-card-in-your-car/

A second link about someone asking whether they should remove the card before returning the car. The advice says to take it out. Which implies to me, for this car at least, itll function without a sim

https://www.fpaceforum.com/threads/leave-or-remove-sim-when-turning-car-in.47642/

[–] Auzy@beehaw.org 5 points 1 week ago (5 children)

When you do finally drive, you'll find that having a GPS and such is awesome.

If you're paranoid to that extent, you're better off getting an old car honestly. But trust me, nobody cares about tracking your car, and there are so many licence plate readers here in Australia you're not really anonymous anyway

[–] DeltaTangoLima@reddrefuge.com 14 points 1 week ago

I think OP is referring to the whole "connected cars" thing, which isn't the same as GPS. Many cars nowadays have mobile data capabilities on and are, unbeknownst to the owner, sending all sorts of information to the car makers.

This isn't just governments and government contractors collecting data for road use and tolling. It's for-profit companies harvesting consumer data for their own purpose. OP is right to be paranoid.

[–] DreitonLullaby@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 week ago

I know how helpful GPS is. Also, I am not paranoid, and you shouldn't be making those kinds of assumptions about anyone you don't know. I simply want to minimize private data being open for abuse and am exploring what can and can't be done, and their benefits and disadvantages. This after all, is the privacy community you're talking in; where you share advice and knowledge about enhancing ones privacy, not telling them they are paranoid for pursuing it.

Cellular service has nothing to do with gps capabilities.

[–] vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 week ago

true, but totally irrelevant. Gps has nothing to do with sim cards

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 7 points 1 week ago

This is just the usual "nothing to hide" handwaving argument.

This data is not used by some theoretical policeman to laugh at how bad you drive, it is part of commercial datamining present in virtually all devices and services you use.

GPS and such? Great that I have a smartphone that I trust more, and have more control over, than this big blackbox with no access whatsoever.

[–] HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I guess the manufacturer would void any warranty you have on the car, so there'that to be considered

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm happy to take that to court. There are legal controls on what invalidates a warranty, including reasons that can't be signed away in a contract.

[–] HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

Doing god's work my mate!

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[–] ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Better would be to locate the antenna connection on the device that's doing the communication, and replace the antenna with a dummy load.

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[–] db2@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

With how big Australia is and how long the stretches are in which there are only things that want to kill and/or consume you how wise is it to do that? I'm not trolling, if I got jumped by a rowdy gang of drop crocs I'd rather people at least knew where to start looking for the pieces.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 6 points 1 week ago

A better question is 'how often will you drive these areas'

For most it's never

[–] PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk 3 points 1 week ago

A good point, but if privacy is their key concern then I would imagine it would have to be a two step approach - rip out the SIM and radio, but also have a couple of plan B's such as phones with location tracking (the irony isn't lost on me), land-based EPIRB's, or satphones or whatever's needed.

That, or invest in some drop-croc martial arts!

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