PrivacyTubers driving Tesla cars

2026-05-05 15:20 UTC

A few days back I watched a SomeOrdinaryGamers video, in which he states to drive a Tesla car, despite expressing the obvious privacy concerns surrounding the built-in camera system; but doesn’t seem to consider the privacy-impact to those around the vehicle, he chooses to drive through public streets. And another example being Rob Braxman, while ironically, both known to frequently criticize other public-facing, internet connected surveillance systems (like Ring for example). If it was “just” a cabin camera, staring you straight in the face every time you drive your car (and you’re somehow okay with that), it would still be a terrible look in context with your channel content, but at least it is contained to you personally. But knowingly driving these surveillance nightmares on wheels through public streets, subjecting others to that surveillance, while you represent pro-privacy channels online, is just inexcusably hypocritical to me. But perhaps it might just be me, so what are your thoughts?

Replies (10)

@TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.ca 2026-05-05 15:38

Alec from Technology Connections brought up a good point in recent video about EVs. He mentioned how Tesla owners are a special kind of EV driver and don’t actually care about EV technology or green(er) vehicles; they only care about their Tesla. I’d imagine this is part of that mindset. Tesla can do no wrong in their eyes, even if it goes against their normal morals and beliefs.

Open ##2040571
@Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 2026-05-05 15:52

If you are a privacy advocate and driving a Tesla, you are a grifter. This isn’t, “You can’t criticize capitalism while being in a capitalistic system.” Tesla is one product among hundreds of consumer choices. They are choosing to drive around with the equivalent of 9 Ring and Flock cameras taped to themselves.

Open ##2040643
@AcornTickler@sh.itjust.works 2026-05-05 15:53

I watched SomeOrdinaryGamers for a few years and it became quite uninteresting near the end of that period. I stopped completely when he told his audience not to buy Nintendo Switch 2 and went ahead and bought it shortly after. That guy is not honest or genuine.

Open ##2040644
@FineCoatMummy@sh.itjust.works 2026-05-05 15:48

Ayup I agree wtih you. It’s one example of a general prob. So much of tech now betrays the privacy of NON users. There are calculator apps, weather apps, prayer apps, fitness apps for phones. They scrape contacts. I’m in my friends contacts. Now a million data broker companies track my social graph despite I don’t give it tot hem. And Facebook ofc. They build Shadow Profiles on NON users. You never used FB? Well FB still buidls a profile of you. You can tell a lot about someone just from metadata. Who are your friends? Now we can infer your politics. Your educational level. Your hobbies. Oh, gmail too! When gmail started it was “Your new mailman will read your mail”. But in reading your mail it also reads MY mail. I guess, most ppl just do not think about it. They give personal data as much thought as I give my toothbrush. Personal data is invisible. We cannot touch it. Out of sight out of mind.

Open ##2040647
@chloroken@lemmy.ml 2026-05-05 16:28

The dumbfuck YouTuber who pretended to he an engineer loves Teslas? Amazing. On the nose. Also, don’t get your privacy advice from YouTube. A horrible idea.

Open ##2041095
@RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works 2026-05-05 17:24

Considering those youtubers have their faces on camera very often, I don’t see how being recorded by a Tesla hurts their privacy at all. As for invading the privacy of the public at large by driving a Tesla, there are cameras everywhere. Still, anyone driving a Tesla is not someone I’m going to for privacy advice and I wouldn’t listen to Braxman no matter what he drives.

Open ##2041417
@Steve@communick.news 2026-05-05 18:52

I don’t have a problem with this. Advocating to change the status quo, doesn’t insulate you from having to live in it. If you want a nice new electric vehicle, in the US today you’re going to have to buy a spy mobile. No way around it. In no way does having one mean you can’t push for public awareness, and government regulation to improve the current privacy environment. You can call it hypocritical. It’s not. It’s pragmatic.

Open ##2042481
@TheGreenWizard@lemmy.zip 2026-05-06 02:55

SomeOrdinaryGamers is a hypocrite, and pathetically dependent on the opinions of random people on the internet. Bro made a video talking about how you should delete your twitter account and then he makes a new one behind the scenes like a week later. He makes videos about how bad the switch 2 is, says to not buy the switch 2, then proceeds to buy the switch 2 and makes a fucking apology video for people on reddit calling him out lmao. Those same chuds got mad he made a video calling out some vtuber creep he used to make a podcast with, and he took the video down. Bro has zero backbone or integrity. Also, most importantly he fucked up an arch update and had no backups, then blamed it on Arch and made a video about swapping to mint. (no hate towards mint, mint is awesome.)

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@Tiger_Man_@szmer.info 2026-05-06 07:11

theuse youtube,the platform that requiers your personal data to change the thumbnail

Open ##2067758
@WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2026-05-05 19:05

but muh convenience!! and you shouldn't care about privacy either!

Open ##2068893