Ford patent fears: Warranted? Or just growing pains of the industry?

Oswego, N.Y.- Ford Motor Company has recently been under some scrutiny for filing patents for technologies that some consider invasive of consumer privacy.

Patents for tech like facial recognition software, biometric data collection and even targeted advertisements in vehicles based on conversations in the cabin.

These patents have caused quite the stir and some Oswego residents are opposed to many of the features in them.

“I didn’t know they were doing ads” said Oswego State accounting major Tom Cowden “That’s terrible, if you ever needed a reason not to by a Ford… there you go!”

Another student, Nick Sepci, was asked about the potential privacy invading features. “It’s a strain on human dignity” said Sepci.

But according to Ford dealership Koerner Ford of Syracuse, the technology to make these features a reality doesn’t yet exist in the vehicles

Koerner Salesman Joshua Kerr said that the most advanced technology they have in their newest vehicles is “Blue Cruise”, an automated driving system designed for highways.

“You can literally just take your hands off the wheel, feet of the pedals” Said Kerr.

“I did it the whole way to Cortland.”

According to Kerr, one of the only features that could be considered invasive on the 2026 Ford Expedition is the inclusion of eye tracking for the vehicle to warn the driver if they begin to look away.

He also mentioned that most of the technology put into newer Ford vehicles is simply for the safety of the driver and their surroundings.

“It’ll create safer roads. You don’t have to worry about some drunk idiot flying down the highway.”

Its important to remember that a patent for a technology doesn’t mean that tech is going to make it into a manufacturer’s fleet of vehicles.

Central New York Automotive expert John Metzler hosts a long running radio show called “The Car Care Clinic” and from what he’s seen, Ford isn’t the only company with their eyes on tech like this.

“I think all manufacturer’s do that, it’s not just Ford.” Said Metzler

“It’s part of the times that we live in”

Metzler said that while Ford is in the hotseat they aren’t the only ones creating technology like this and trying to advance the industry.