so did i almost 20 year ago. lol

Totally. Next they are going to issue devices to everyone that track their every step. You know, small devices, small enough to fit into a pocket. The devices might even be equipped with a microphone and a camera and they'll have a constant wireless spy link that allows the spy network provider to track the location of each of these devices completely irrespective of what software is or is not running on the device.

And because it's a corporate dictatorship, they might even make people pay for these devices themselves.

Tbh, I totally don't get why people are so panicky about car tracking when everyone voluntarily owns a smartphone that allows much more in-detail position tracking than car tracking ever could.

Don't you all know that network providers can and do track any mobile device (including dumb phones and phones with custom ROMs) in their networks? They physically have to do that to place your phone into the right network cell, but they then save your location. And if you live in the USA, go read your mobile network contract. Chances are very high that you gave your network provider permission to sell your location to whoever pays.

When I grew up a car was something everyone basically needed to have. Basically you were a nobody without a driving license.

Even still in my home country it's like that. And I'm not from America, it's an EU country with decent public transport. But cars are glorified.

It's pretty ridiculous. Not having one I save so much money, so much stress driving, so much hassle.

I am new to this and just skimming.

But at a glance, the article talks about Section 24220 of the "BIL" which does indeed talk about in-cabin monitoring. I wish I could find the actual section of the law on my phone, but this letter from NHTSA talks about it.

But the articles links seem to be about something completely different.

Sloppy AF, yes, and in that sense the article is bullshit. But the thing it's warning about does seem to exist.

But is it illegal to disconnect or cover the antennae so it cant phone home design and open source a replacement ECU to swap out for the snitch box?

FTFY

Mine broke and I can't afford to fix it.

I dunno, seems as mundane as wearing sunglasses and driving gloves.