Class action in Israel accuses BYD of spying on drivers through connected cars
An $80 million class action against BYD in Israel alleges the Chinese carmaker spies on drivers. Israel's hypocrisy over Pegasus comes up in the debate.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Israeli paradox: suing BYD for spying while living off Pegasus
A class action filed in Israel seeks $80 million from Chinese manufacturer BYD for collecting personal data from its connected vehicles and transferring it to third parties, allegedly to Iran. The accusations include video and audio recordings, geolocation and other sensitive information.
The irony escapes no one: Israel is the creator of Pegasus spyware, used to infiltrate phones around the world. Now wringing its hands over the same practice recalls the tale of the thief crying "catch the thief".
The BYD data scandal
According to the lawsuit, BYD's connected vehicle systems operate as a digital Trojan horse. Without drivers' knowledge, the car collects video, audio and location data and sends it to servers outside Israel. The $80 million amount claimed suggests the plaintiffs consider the damage massive.
Critics point out that the practice is not exclusive to China. Israeli and American companies have been doing the same for decades, often with less transparency. The difference is that the alleged recipient this time is Iran, a declared enemy of Israel, which aggravates the perception of betrayal.
Hypocrisy as the backdrop
While Israel sues BYD for espionage, its own cyber-espionage industry, such as NSO Group, exports Pegasus to authoritarian regimes. The lawsuit looks more like a geopolitical move than a genuine defence of privacy. BYD drivers in Israel were probably already aware that their car was a connected device; the selective outrage smells of double standards.
The question left hanging: does privacy really matter, or just who gets the data?
Related discussions in the forum
A class action filed in Israel seeks $80 million from Chinese manufacturer BYD for collecting personal data from its connected vehicles and transferring it to third parties, allegedly to Iran. The accusations include video and audio recordings, geolocation and other sensitive information.
The irony escapes no one: Israel is the creator of Pegasus spyware, used to infiltrate phones around the world. Now wringing its hands over the same practice recalls the tale of the thief crying "catch the thief".
The BYD data scandal
According to the lawsuit, BYD's connected vehicle systems operate as a digital Trojan horse. Without drivers' knowledge, the car collects video, audio and location data and sends it to servers outside Israel. The $80 million amount claimed suggests the plaintiffs consider the damage massive.
Critics point out that the practice is not exclusive to China. Israeli and American companies have been doing the same for decades, often with less transparency. The difference is that the alleged recipient this time is Iran, a declared enemy of Israel, which aggravates the perception of betrayal.
Hypocrisy as the backdrop
While Israel sues BYD for espionage, its own cyber-espionage industry, such as NSO Group, exports Pegasus to authoritarian regimes. The lawsuit looks more like a geopolitical move than a genuine defence of privacy. BYD drivers in Israel were probably already aware that their car was a connected device; the selective outrage smells of double standards.
The question left hanging: does privacy really matter, or just who gets the data?
Related discussions in the forum
- Peliculas de 2025-2026 que os hayan gustado · 79 replies
- Adios PVPC. "No va a quedar más remedio; será 106 euros más caro para los españoles que tengan una PVPC" · 61 replies
- NOMBRES que te dan ANGUSTIA · 125 replies
- Opinión volvo xc40 b3 · 20 replies
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (25 replies).
More summaries
-
IEA now expects EVs to reach just 30% of sales by 2030, down from 40% forecast last year
The IEA has cut its EV sales forecast to 30% for 2030. Is this the end of the electric car push, or just a market correction?
-
Spain's 386,000 electric cars already save the equivalent of 4 oil tankers a year
386,000 electric cars in Spain save the equivalent of 4 oil tankers a year, but the debate over their real environmental impact pits defenders against critics over the life cycle.
-
Elon Musk’s appearance sparks debate: does the founder’s body matter?
Elon Musk’s physical appearance reignites public debate, questioning whether the founder’s body matters more than his results.
-
Turntables: why the volume is so low and which phono preamp you need
A €150 Technics and a bare wire: why a turntable sounds quiet without a phono preamp and how to apply the RIAA curve correctly.
-
€48,000 for an 80 m² campsite plot facing possible expropriation
A forum user refuses to pay €48,000 for an 80 m² plot in a campsite under a municipal concession in Spain: he fears losing his investment if the council expropriates it paying only rural land rates.
-
Using a PC Monitor as a TV: Why a SCART-VGA Cable Doesn't Work
A SCART-VGA cable won't turn a monitor into a TV: the signals are incompatible. Active converters cost more than a set-top box with VGA output.