Senator charges GM's OnStar invades privacy

[SecularMotion]

Source: USA Today

General Motors' OnStar in-car communications system violates privacy, a U.S. senator is charging.

OnStar, used by 6 million Americans, maintains its two-way connection with a customer even after the service is discontinued, while reserving the right to sell data from that connection, the Associated Press reports.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., says that's a blatant invasion of privacy and is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. But OnStar says former customers can stop the two-way transmission, and no driving data of customers have been shared or sold.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/09/senator-charges-gms-onstar-invades-privacy/1

[gateley]

1. Yah, Schumer! He shouldn't be the only one! nt

[Lucian]

2. Good.

I don't want some company knowing where I am driving all of the time.

[customerserviceguy]

18. One of a thousand reasons I have to not buy a GM product. n/t

[digitaln3rd]

3. Yes, this is certainly what Congress should be focused on.

:eyes:

What boneheads. It's an opt-in service whose POINT is to know where you are in emergencies.

[Maine_Nurse]

4. No, the problem is that...

even if you don't have or want the service, they still track and communicate with your car and may sell or distribute the information.

[digitaln3rd]

6. Because they have nothing better to do then track your movement?

:eyes:

[OnyxCollie]

8. It can also be used to track if you speed, brake quickly, etc.

Gosh, that's the kind of stuff your car insurance company would interested in when determining your premium.

Did it ever cross your mind that such information could be sold at great profit? I guess not.

[Maine_Nurse]

12. Not to mention...

the stores/malls/restaurants you park at and at what time of day-pretty handy for targeted marketing (spam)

what times of day you are home (for telemarketers to call you)

I can think of a lot of opportunities for Onstar to sell plenty of info about you.

[Missy Vixen]

9. Progressive Insurance is now offering to install a device on

one's car to monitor your "good driving habits", for instance. I have a perfect driving record, and would not consent to installing one of these devices on our car.

Information is gathered and sold by OnStar. Progressive will use the data gathered by this device as a reason to cancel policies. If you don't think so, perhaps the tinfoil hat is too tight.

[David Sky]

10. Yeah, I agree, this kind of paranoia goes way over the top... most people

with smart phones don't turn them off, and take out the battery whenever they go somewhere, either walking, on a bike, or in a car, bus, train, or a boat.

If companies that sell these devices have nothing better to do than track you, then America truly needs to fire someone at those companies.

I, for one, am not upset that my cell phone can be used to find me, the built-in mapping GPS can tell me how to get to places, and quite usually places me on a map within 100 feet of where I actually am located. I like that, if I have a heart attack, or a car accident, I'd like to be able to be tracked for 24-48 hours while people figure out where I am... this in a car WITHOUT On-Star, just me with my cell phone.

If the on-star system is installed and Sen Schumer and other's don't want it, find a way to disconnect it from the power source. It cannot be THAT hard for a mechanic with a manual to figure THAT out!


Why do we need to waste Congress' time with this kind of paranoid obsession when there are real problems needing a solution?

[Maine_Nurse]

13. Actually, you can't "disconnect" OnStar in the newer vehicles...

it is tied to the electrical and electronic management systems in multiple places, including the Electronic Data Recorder (black box--which also can no longer be disconnected without driveability consequences. Just like you can't replace a factory stereo with an aftermarket in many autos now without completely screwing the vehicle up.

[David Sky]

15. Where there is a will, there is a way, and I actually think this is what

Schumer wants to be standard on all cars.

Are you an auto mechanic with an education in auto-electronics? My mechanic says he can disconnect any item, including doing ON-STAR type systems, quite easily, and only charges $39 for what he says takes 20 minutes and the right capacitors.

[Maine_Nurse]

20. Nope, familiar with but not educated in GM electronics...

but my old high-school friend that has been a GM mechanic for over 25 years (and has no problem screwing GM like he got screwed) says he can't manage to take out the newer models without screwing things up severely. The only GM vehicles that can be ordered without it are certain fleet vehicles. He does say that he could order (for tons of $$) the complete ECU and related items from the corresponding fleet vehicles then be able to remove it.

[Arctic Dave]

14. Must mean something to them if they are doing it.

Eyeroll.

[David Sky]

16. Yes, VOTES!!!

[Arctic Dave]

17. I was refering to onstar.

Seems they would be getting something from it they are willing to acquire and store all that data.

And I would proudly vote for anyone who is against police state actions.

[Gormy Cuss]

19. Because data is money.

The more observations they have, the more useful the data are for end users who are willing to pay for it.

[Autumn Colors]

5. not to mention ....

... an open mic in your car that can be activated remotely to eavesdrop on in-car conversations.

:tinfoilhat:

[Dawson Leery]

11. OnStar does have a passive listening capacity.

[Historic NY]

7. Any one of the services has had the capacity to do the same...

and its not just GM.