Don't expect trackers to save your stolen car, experts say

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Don't expect trackers to save your stolen car, experts say Figure caption, Ian Fogg has been unable to retrieve his stolen car, despite having its live location data and a doorbell video recording of it being stolenByZoe Kleinman Technology and AI editorPublished13 minutes agoPeople should not expect vehicle trackers to be able to help them if their car is stolen, experts have warned. Car safety firm Thatcham Research said there was a "genuine and growing gap" between consumer expectation and the technical reality of so-called connected car features. Ian Fogg, a smartphone analyst, said his car was stolen from outside his house in March, but he has not been able to retrieve it - despite the manufacturer, Kia, being able to view its live location via the Kia Connect service.

The company told the that UK law prevented the Connect function being used to live track vehicles, advising customers to use it for "convenience" rather than security. Fogg told News: "This car was incredibly easy to hack but incredibly difficult to track, it shouldn't be this easy to nick a car when they cost an order of magnitude more than a phone and have similar radio technology". He had video doorbell evidence of it being driven away, an Apple Airtag hidden inside it, and the Kia Connect service.

The Details

His story is a cautionary tale of how tech can promise security but cannot necessarily be relied upon in the event of a crisis. He was abroad in March this year when his phone pinged to say he no longer had access to the Kia Connect app. Image source, Ian FoggImage caption, Ian Fogg works as a smartphone analystThieves had broken into the vehicle without having the keys, and had disconnected Fogg's phone via the entertainment system.

There is an unsecured process for doing this, designed to make it easier for new owners to take over from previous ones. He watched the car drive off via his video doorbell. For a short while he was able to track it via an Apple Airtag hidden inside it, until the thieves located it and discarded it because it was making a noise - a feature introduced by Apple to combat stalking.

On its website Kia Connect advises customers to contact it in the event of a theft. But when he did, Fogg was told he would have to fill in a form every time he requested the location of his car. He did this eight times, and each time he did not receive the location until 24-48 hours after the car had been recorded there.

What Experts Say

Its last location was in Lithuania. Image source, Getty Images"Kia Connect is a customer convenience feature, not a certified security vehicle tracker," the firm told the . "Therefore, it does not provide live‑tracking functionality for stolen vehicles.

"Release of location details of a vehicle via Kia Connect is possible, however this must be done in full compliance with all applicable laws, in particular GDPR, and the authorities to minimise risk to the customer. "GPDR is Europe's data protection law, and an almost-identical version applies in the UK.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.