Cybersecurity

It doesn't cost them much of anything to include the modem (which is the main problem), and the data they receive is very valuable. I agree that less tech is good and all new cars (not just electric) are full of stuff I would prefer they came without. But the connected Internet shit also allows for software updates OTA. That's a double edged sword. Without it you'd have to take your vehicle to a dealer if it needed a necessary software update (for a recall for instance). But obviously, having it means they can do things to your car without you even necessarily knowing or understanding what is happening (risky, for multiple reasons, including removing features with a botched software update).

Depends on the car and whether or not you can even get to that modem connection without tearing apart the interior. The main problem is if it's linked to the main computer (ECU), or similar. If it is, your vehicle may be undrivable. It's better to talk to the company who made your car and have them disable it. You may have to have a lawyer do so. If you're buying a new car it is certainly possible to disagree to those terms that would activate it. But apparently not possible to have them build the car without it (which I think is bogus as hell). There was a big article about this after an investigation by Mozilla more than a year ago. People on reddit (I know !) were pretty mad about it then and they were looking for solutions. The consensus was that some cars you can get to the modem, some cars you can't.

Also, you may not be able to receive necessary software updates (recalls etc) if you do disable it.

You are not allowed to drive anymore; your car needs to be able to call emergency response. Is an EU rule.

Edit: called eCall, compulsory.

When eCall is activated, it connects to the nearest emergency response centre, using both a telephone and data link. This allows you and the passengers in the vehicle to communicate with the emergency centre operator and at the same time, a minimum set of data is automatically transmitted (your exact location, the time of the accident, your vehicle's identification number and direction of travel). This allows the emergency services to assess and manage your situation.

Aggregating information can increase its sensitivity level, government employees deal with this on a regular basis; why are they giving data breeches like this the kiddie gloves?

Fortunately we can always trust what Volkswagen says.

Not.

So what you are saying is that unless the next CEO assassin uses vehicle data to figure out where his target is it won't happen?

As people have been saying for years, the S in IoT stands for security.