Yesterday evening, I sat down in the Chan Auditorium on the campus of UAH (the University of Alabama in Huntsville) to listen to Frederiek Toney, Corporate Vice President and President, Global Ford Customer Service Division, alumnus of both UAH and Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama.

Fred’s talk was interesting and underscored several topics of personal interest to me, which I’ll get to later on.

However, one point stood out more than the others: his emphasis on “you can’t manage a secret,” which he repeated more than once.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Ford, originally started in the United States of America, is a global competitor.

Should I be concerned about Ford’s electronics offering backdoor access to governmental agencies?  Will car owners have to sign EULAs (end user licence agreements) that state something like the following:

READ THESE NOTICES CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ACCEPT THESE CONDITIONS, RETURN THE VEHICLE IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS INCLUDED WITH THE VEHICLE TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE REFUNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE RETURN POLICY OF THE PLACE OF PURCHASE.

• IMPORTANT NOTICE: As part of Ford’s quality assurance analysis, this vehicle automatically sends anonymous, non-personally identifiable system information to Ford (and/or other entities as volunteered for or required by law) upon first approach, when the vehicle attempts to connect to an electronic network such as the Internet, and periodically thereafter.  It also automatically searches for updates for your vehicle.  Personal information may be gathered, retrieved and sent in accordance with applicable laws in your jurisdiction at any place and any time.  See details in the Ford End User Licence Agreement included with your vehicle.

The software products preinstalled in your vehicle are copyrighted products.  Please carefully read all of the licence agreements furnished with each product because it may send anonymous/personal data not only to the product manufacturer but also to Ford and/or other entities as volunteered for or required by law.

Ford and its affiliates are not responsible for the accuracy and/or use of data stored or collected about your vehicle.  Any and all disputes will be resolved through the mandatory and binding arbitration policy which went into effect the moment you expressed interest in this vehicle.