Apple and Google Are Suddenly Part of a DOJ Emissions Investigation
Though Dieselgate may be in the rearview, companies are still out there trying to skirt the law by any means necessary.
Plug-in OBDII devices that "tune" the vehicle can do so, and now the Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking into the situation—the EZ Lynk Auto Agent App, specifically—to see what might be outside the realm of legality. Worse, this isn't just about questioning whether the device adheres to the letter of the law, but it brings up huge questions about user privacy.
The DOJ has subpoenaed Apple and Google, as well as EZ Lynk Auto Agent, for user data so they can look into roughly 100,000 individuals' vehicles and the software attached to the app in question.
Walmart and Amazon are also being subpoenaed for buyer data. It seems that in gathering this information, they are seeking to understand whether the app alters the vehicle's emissions equipment, something usually done so that more horsepower and/or torque can be delivered.
Interestingly, these devices usually also help to improve gas mileage as well, but that's not the subject of this investigation.
The big question is, why now? Especially after the current administration slashed emissions regulations.
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Based in Connecticut, Ross hosts The Hooniverse Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast.
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