The modern world runs on data — collecting it, selling it, buying it, there’s a whole economy to tracking and measuring every little thing you do. Carmakers, of course, want in on those sweet data dollars. That’s why your car always knows where you are, and why Kia and Nissan want to know who, when, where, why, and how you like to bang. But now, there’s a force that’s trying to stand up for the car-owning, data-creating little guy: The state of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has introduced two bills — one in the state House and one in the Senate — that aim to limit what data companies can collect on you. The bills are both called the Massachusetts Data Privacy Protection Act, and they’re a massive step forward in consumer protection — though not a perfect one.

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The list of exemptions goes on from there, but “provide or maintain a specific product or service requested by the individual” is already a broad one. So long as a company can tie its data collection back to a specific service that you signed up for — say, your free trial of connected services in your infotainment — there doesn’t seem to be much this bill can do to stop it. The warranty section, too, seems ripe for abuse. After all, how can you know a warranty claim is valid unless you collect exacting data to be sure the product was used as intended?

The Massachusetts Data Privacy Protection Act is a good step towards securing your data, but it’s just that — a step. Further legislation, more strict rules, will always be needed. Still, the right-to-repair state continues to lead the way for legislation that protects individuals from the whims of car companies. More states should get on board.

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