Audi Service and Dashcam

[mReen]

So today I've had some service job done at Audi Service Centre - changed brake fluid and did aircon service.

When I've received my car back, I've noticed that wires from dashcam are disconnected. Ok, no problem. But when I came back home, I took SD card off and it was formatted and dashcam settings were reset. So it means they took off SD card from dashcam, and formatted it manually, using PC. They had access to my personal and private data and I wonder what did they do with it (including voice recordings inside my car from previous few days). So, few facts:

- Upon checking in at reception, I've mentioned that I have dashcam installed, adviser didn't seem to worry about it.
- I've got stickers on windows saying that dashcam is installed.
- Originally I was told that the whole job would take approx 1.5 hours. Instead they were doing something with my car for 3.5 hours. That was brake fluid change and aircon service.
- When returning my car they "forgot" to put a stamp into service book.

Any comments? Is it legal for them to access my private data without letting me know and do whatever they want with it?

[djjarvis]

If no files have been written to the card since they formatted it (or even if they have), you could try software called Recuva :
Recuva - Free Download

Install it on your PC and point it at the card - it will suggest to save any recovered files to your hard drive instead of back to the card, so as to avoid destroying other recoverable files.

What you'll find is anyone's guess, but it will be interesting to find out what they were trying to hide...

[mReen]

Recovered deleted files. There's about 15 min of footage, before mechanic realised there's a dashcam and disconnected wires. Nothing extraordinary - the "worst" thing I've noticed was that he was getting inside few times and put protective seat cover just some time later, that's it. No idea why they formatted SD card. And I really don't like they did it without letting me know.

[djjarvis]

Personally I disconnect mine and take then down after I arrive at the garage, but I too would be miffed if they did that to me.

They might have been concerned that other customers' personal details might have been picked up on the microphone? On the other hand, once they messed with the card they could be said to be in breach of the Computer Misuse Act. It's not a part of the car and you didn't authorise them to access or modify the data within.