Communication between ABS/ESP and the instrument cluster

Good morning, everyone.

I'm not entirely sure if I'm in the right place, but I guess I'll find out based on the reactions I get.
Perhaps I should mention that I'm currently working on my bachelor's thesis on the topic of manipulating mileage counters, but I've reached the limits of my knowledge in one chapter, and the internet hasn't really been helpful either.
Now, to get to my actual problem or question:
'I need to create a kind of comparison or contrast in a section, relating to the current installation and control options for electronic distance counters.' Since I haven't found anything useful so far, my plan is to put it all together piece by piece.
As far as I know, the instrument cluster receives its data regarding the distance traveled from the ABS/ESP control unit, which in turn obtains its information from the wheel speed sensors.
'I would be interested to know:'
-Is this assumption correct?
-Are there any alternatives to this (e.g., that the data comes from the transmission control unit)?
-Could this information potentially be encrypted by some manufacturers (aside from the manufacturers' own specific CAN bus encoding)?
-Are there really differences in the way they are controlled?

If anyone has information about the installation options, I would also be very happy to hear from them, but I think this might be the wrong forum for that.

If this post seems demanding, or if it gives the impression that I'm simply asking someone to create a chapter for my Bachelor's thesis for me, I want to preemptively address that. I've been trying to obtain information on this topic for the past 4 weeks, but all the manufacturers either refuse to provide any information or threaten legal action. If I simply searched the internet incorrectly, I would gladly welcome any suggestions.

Okay, since we're in the CAN forum, I have some basic knowledge about CAN. I've worked with CANoe for a couple of weeks during an internship, and before my studies, I completed an apprenticeship as a mechanic. So, I've had some experience with the topic, although I wouldn't claim to have deep knowledge. Just to preface this, in case the answers turn out to be more complex.

First of all, thank you to everyone who took the time to read this novel, and another thank you in advance for any responses you may have.

I think there will be differences between the various manufacturers, but basically, your information is correct.

However, the wheel speed is validated (based on motor speed/gear ratio), and my knowledge is not encrypted (too complex for CAN 2.0), but only secured with a CRC and SQC.

However, there are likely some initial systems that validate the speed using the GPS signal.

'Thank you for the response, it's good to know that I wasn't completely wrong about that.'

What I've gathered from some recent phone calls is that it supposedly also affects some newer models, where the mileage is continuously transmitted via the high-speed CAN bus to counteract developments like odometer tampering. I think the idea is quite nice, if it's true that it's being used for that purpose, but actually, the information from the wheel speed sensors is already being transmitted more or less continuously, just to display the speed reasonably accurately. However, when I asked that very question, I didn't really receive satisfactory answers.
Does anyone else here know anything about this, or has anyone seen this before?

The mileage is not set on the bus due to mileage restrictions, but rather to create diagnostic freeze frames and for a "theft protection" function. This makes it clear whether a part is new or used.

'Hmm, I was just reading a bit about freeze frames, and your explanation makes much more sense than what I was told on the phone yesterday.' Too bad.