OnStar Tracks Your Car Even When You Cancel Service

[The Straight Story]

Navigation-and-emergency-services company OnStar is notifying its six million account holders that it will keep a complete accounting of the speed and location of OnStar-equipped vehicles, even for drivers who discontinue monthly service.

OnStar began e-mailing customers Monday about its update to the privacy policy, which grants OnStar the right to sell that GPS-derived data in an anonymized format.

Adam Denison, a spokesman for the General Motors subsidiary, said OnStar does not currently sell customer data, but it reserves that right. He said both the new and old privacy policies allow OnStar to chronicle a vehicle’s every movement and its speed, though it’s not clear where that’s stated in the old policy.

“What’s changed you want to cancel your OnStar service, we are going to maintain a two-way connection to your vehicle unless the customer says otherwise,” Denison said in a telephone interview.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/09/onstar-tracks-you/

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Offhand, I'd say OnStar is sabotaging their business

Even the most non-conspiratorically-minded individuals may balk at this.

[leveymg]

2. On-Spy markets data to the insurance industry. More $$s than subscriptions

I wouldn't buy a car with On-Spy.

In April, State Farm rolled out its "voluntary" data sharing program: http://telematicsnews.info/2011/04/04/onstar-and-state-farm-announce-mileage-based-insurance-discounts-in-texas_a2045/

Now, Progressive wants to install it's own GPS tracker in every car as part of its "safe driver discount."

[RC]

3. There is no GPS involved with Progressive's system.

They really don't know where you are. All it does is transmit speed and breaking information.


http://www.progressive.com/auto/snapshot-privacy-statement.aspx
"Data We Collect
The Snapshot device records vehicle speed and time of day, and when the device is connected and disconnected from the vehicle. It also records the Vehicle Identification Number upon installation. Other information, such as miles driven and rates of acceleration and braking, is derived from the speed and time information recorded by the device.

Data We Don't Collect
Snapshot focuses on how safely, how often, how far, and when you drive, NOT where you drive. The Snapshot device does not contain GPS technology and does not track vehicle location or whether you’re exceeding the speed limit. We also don’t know who is driving the car in which the device is installed."

[leveymg]

4. Great. Progressive's Back Seat Driver. No thanks. Strong No thanks.

[Dawson Leery]

5. "Let em' fail"!

:puke:

Or at least unplug the microphone.

[SoCalDem]

6. Can't they have the device removed?

I think I would, if I was sure that I did not want to pay for the service.

[Edweird]

7. A few minutes with a small pair of wire cutters and you can nip that in the bud.