Privacy? How to disable Telluride modem?

[Olivia22]

Has anyone successfully disabled the modem/GPS module on a 2021 Telluride? This would be limiting the tracking and transmission of data, like location, speed, braking, or whatever. Most cars have an opaque or even impossible system to turn off, at least without disabling other important capabilities of the car (which we all paid for). As I can use my phone for navigation, I don't choose to use the car's GPS either - that data is also subject to transmission to Kia or others. I don't know about Kia's record here, but both Chevrolet and Nissan have been cited (and sued, I believe successfully in the Chevy case), for selling the data to Nexus/Lexus for onward sale to insurers. There are interesting New York Times articles on the issue. Does anyone know about Kia's practices on this?

Why disable these automatic trackers/reporters? My information is my own - I don't choose to let them use it.

If you don't know the answer on how to do this, but you're tempted to answer my question with something like "why are you asking?", I have heard the "if you aren't doing anything wrong, let them see it" or "they can just track your cellphone" arguments, but that's not the point. Its mine, not Kia's (or whoever else they give/sell it to.)

 

[DarkMossJustin]

Working on a project to tackle this issue, now that my Telly is out of warranty.

A few friends have successfully “de-fuzzed” their cars from tracking/transmission.

I’d like a more driver-selectable option.

Hopefully I can figure out how to switch the modem on and off and on again, allowing a kind of on-demand “stealth mode”

 

[vinylhaircut]

Has anyone successfully disabled the modem/GPS module on a 2021 Telluride? This would be limiting the tracking and transmission of data, like location, speed, braking, or whatever. Most cars have an opaque or even impossible system to turn off, at least without disabling other important capabilities of the car (which we all paid for). As I can use my phone for navigation, I don't choose to use the car's GPS either - that data is also subject to transmission to Kia or others. I don't know about Kia's record here, but both Chevrolet and Nissan have been cited (and sued, I believe successfully in the Chevy case), for selling the data to Nexus/Lexus for onward sale to insurers. There are interesting New York Times articles on the issue. Does anyone know about Kia's practices on this?

Why disable these automatic trackers/reporters? My information is my own - I don't choose to let them use it.

If you don't know the answer on how to do this, but you're tempted to answer my question with something like "why are you asking?", I have heard the "if you aren't doing anything wrong, let them see it" or "they can just track your cellphone" arguments, but that's not the point. Its mine, not Kia's (or whoever else they give/sell it to.)

I don't have the answer, but I one data point that might interest you. If you disable the GPS Module, then try to run android auto from your phone (I assume the same is true for Apple) and display it on the dashboard, it won't work. My GPS Module failed. I had been using the native Kia Nav. I thought while I was waiting for the part, I could just us Android Auto on my phone (using the phone's GPS instead of the vehicle's). That worked, until I connected the USB cable to display the map on the car's screen. Apparently, once you do that, it wants to use the car's GPS. This may or may not have any impact on your decision, but just be aware that if you are using the screen on your dashboard, you're also using the car's GPS.

 

[DarkMossJustin]

I don't have the answer, but I one data point that might interest you. If you disable the GPS Module, then try to run android auto from your phone (I assume the same is true for Apple) and display it on the dashboard, it won't work. My GPS Module failed. I had been using the native Kia Nav. I thought while I was waiting for the part, I could just us Android Auto on my phone (using the phone's GPS instead of the vehicle's). That worked, until I connected the USB cable to display the map on the car's screen. Apparently, once you do that, it wants to use the car's GPS. This may or may not have any impact on your decision, but just be aware that if you are using the screen on your dashboard, you're also using the car's GPS.

So your phone’s map wouldn’t display on the screen only when connected by USB cable?

Was hoping to bypass the car’s native GPS using CarPlay.

I wonder if I’ll run into the same issue

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[vinylhaircut]

So your phone’s map wouldn’t display on the screen only when connected by USB cable?

Was hoping to bypass the car’s native GPS using CarPlay.

I wonder if I’ll run into the same issue

Yeah, I couldn't get my working phone's Google map to display on my dashboard via Android Auto while my car's GPS module was defective.