2024 Land Cruiser LC 250 disabling DCM tracking

[PrivacyGuy]

Dear Toyota lovers,

I'm planning to buy my first Toyota but I'm having concerns about 1. Repairability 2. Privacy 3. Someone remotely controlling the vehicle.

Some background: privacy enthusiast living in Spain, privacy phone, using cash and bitcoin instead of credit cards. My current car is from the 1980s, but my girlfriend wants something new.

The Land Cruiser LC 250 2.8 Diesel is about the only modern car I would consider buying. I've read the article about Toyota on the "Privacy not included" website from Mozilla Foundation, and it is frightening. Before spending €80.000, the privacy issue should be resolved.

I'm aware you can opt-out by asking the dealer, but almost certainly the Spanish car salesman won't know about the subject. It's also possible to opt-out in the software, but I'm not too confident I can trust a big corporation like Toyota respecting my privacy concerns.

I did some research already and found information about disabling the DCM (Data Communication Module). In most Toyotas the module seems to be behind the glove box. It does not contain a removable physical SIM card but an eSIM. Disabling the DCM could be done by taking out the fuse and waiting until the Battery drains, unplugging the antennas and/or covering the module with tin foil. But this information is for older models. Maybe someone has experience with these systems in newer Toyotas? I don't care about losing features like GPS. I want a car, not a computer.
 
So I'm looking for technical solutions, not opinions. If you want to discuss privacy ethics ("if you have nothing to hide" etc) please start a separate thread for this. If you're an NPC not caring about privacy, that's alright for me. Thanks to anyone who can provide useful and valuable comments! If I buy the car, I will share how to disable the tracking.

[forkingabout]

The DCM is also linked to the SOS eCall system in the vehicle & this is why the EU introduced privacy laws for these connected vehicles.

Have you read the EU documentation that covers owner privacy for connected vehicles sold in the EU?

 

[davidif]

NPC ??