Car makers are being accused of spying on drivers, giving data to insurance companies without consent — and US drivers are complaining about spiking premiums. Is your vehicle watching you?

The result? Some drivers report spiking premiums, leading to lawsuits and scrutiny from lawmakers — the latest tension point between technological innovation and consumer privacy.

Georgia farmer Brant McDonald told Fox2 News in St. Louis that after reading about the practice, he requested a consumer disclosure report of his driving information from LexisNexis. He received a report spanning nearly 350 pages “and 300 pages of that are just my driving history in that short period of time.”

Information in the report appears sourced from GM, who made McDonald’s then-new truck.

Here’s what’s really happening, how it could affect you, and what you can do to protect your privacy.

How your driving data gets collected

Today’s cars are equipped with advanced technology capable of tracking a variety of driving habits. Telematics systems, for instance, monitor metrics such as speed, braking intensity, mileage, and even the time of day you’re driving. This data is then transmitted through cellular networks, creating a treasure trove of information about your driving behavior.

While these systems are often touted as tools to improve safety, critics say they also serve another purpose: providing valuable data for automakers, data brokers, and insurance companies.

And some automakers have been accused of sharing this driving data — allegedly without clear consent — with information brokers, who in turn sell the information to insurers.

Why this data matters to insurers

Instead of relying on historical data or credit scores, insurers can use telematics data to assess risk more precisely. On the surface, this might seem fair: Safe drivers could theoretically see lower premiums.

But there’s a flip side: Drivers who rack up high mileage, commute during rush hour, or exhibit behaviors flagged as “risky” could see their data used to raise rates. Some drivers allege their premiums have increased despite no change in their driving habits, simply because of data shared by their automakers.

These practices have triggered legal action in multiple states, with plaintiffs arguing the data collection violates their privacy rights and that they weren’t adequately informed or given a choice to opt out. At least seven class action lawsuits have been filed against General Motors, OnStar, and data brokers LexisNexis and Verisk Analytics.

“Millions of American drivers wanted to buy a car, not a comprehensive surveillance system that unlawfully records information about every drive they take and sells their data to any company willing to pay for it,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after his office sued General Motors in August for false and deceptive business practices.

The controversy has caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington. Senators Ed Markey and Ron Wyden urged the Federal Trade Commission this summer to “hold senior company officials responsible for their flagrant abuse of their customers’ privacy.”