Over 60 years ago, The Jetsons imagined a future filled with flying cars. While we may not be soaring through the skies just yet, today’s vehicles are smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before. These advances promise efficiency and consumer comfort. But as vehicles become increasingly connected, a pressing question has emerged: who owns the data they generate?

The answer may surprise most Americans. Purchasing a vehicle does not automatically give you ownership over its data. Car manufacturers have asserted control over this information, meaning they could know where you work, where you worship, who your best friends are, and how fast you drive. In some cases, manufacturers have been heavily penalized by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly selling that data to third parties without disclosing it to owners. That practice flies in the face of core American values of privacy, autonomy, and property rights.