What are you doing DAVE?!
Posted on 09/21/2011 10:54:36 AM PDT by ShadowAce
Cars fitted with OnStar's technology will be tracked even if the owners don't sign up to the service, in a change to the company's policy that will kick in come December.
OnStar is a service offered by General Motors USA, which inserts a mobile phone, along with telemetry tracking kit, into cars sold by the company. Owners are then offered the option to sign up to the navigation and automatic crash reporting, but in a policy change the company will start collecting data from drivers even if they haven't signed up for the service.
In the notice being sent out to subscribers, and picked up by Wired, OnStar explains that from December this year it will start collecting information about everything from oil levels to mileage, and details of any accident in which the vehicle is involved – including direction of impact, seatbelt use and the location/speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
That is the critical part, to the insurance companies at least. Several US insurance claims have already been invalidated by cars which grassed on their owners, who proved to be travelling faster than they had admitted, and OnStar will hand over the data to the police when required to, and anyone else they deem necessary for "the safety of you or others".
Until now, that data was only available where owners had been signed up to the service, which includes satellite navigation, but come December anyone whose car is fitted with the technology, and hasn't explicitly opted out (by phoning OnStar), will be subject to monitoring by the company.
Earlier this month the European Commission formally adopted eCall, which requires all new cars sold within the EU to be fitted with automatic tracking, and an embedded cellular phone, by 2015. eCall will call up the emergency services in the event of a crash, but it will also put a mobile phone into every car in Europe, which opens up a host of options.
Cars are already getting over-the-air software modifications. Red Bend, specialists in remote software updating, send out software patches to various models over the GSM network; the company is looking forward to being able to reach out to every car to ensure they're running the latest and greatest OS and applications.
In its statement (PDF, 10 pages but quite readable), OnStar explains it will also be collecting anonymous data for traffic and usage analysis, which is probably more valuable to General Motors than details about individuals. The same thing will no doubt apply to eCall-equipped cars when they come on sale.
Few people will bother opting out of such a service, which means that those who do will simply attract attention to themselves. All this is for your own safety and convenience, of course, but if you want to travel anonymously after 2015 then best get yourself an (eCall-exempted) motorcycle and read the small print carefully. ®
Just because the blue button is not there does not mean the car does not have it, nor does it mean it’t not equipped with a black box that records accident information.
government and insurance are forcing this on people. I suspect it will not be an item you can disable with out heavy modifications to the cars computer systems. GM is known for tying everything so tightly together you can’t simply replace the radio let along part of the computer system.
all true but the on point comment is still applicable..OnStar is an autonomous electronic device that presently in not integral with the black box for the simple reason of patent, trademark, and marketing propriatary laws and costs
so far............
google freedom of information and OnStar in California cases to see precidents....Deep into some of this paper trail OnStar years ago admitted the could listen record and analyze
so my 2004 tahoe has this onstar crap, haven’t used it. Are they gonna start collecting data on the old cars too? or does this just apply to newer models.
Paging George Orwell!
That’s my question as well. Is my ‘02 Chevy vulnerable to this?
Not me. I’ll keep driving my 87 and 91 vehicles.
OnStar is setting up a billion dollar a year industry.
Trying to “prove” a turd is really a sculpture in crystal glass by handing you a polishing rag does not pass the smell test.
It’s gonna smell like a turd. Because that is what it is.
Ask yourself who or what will pay good money for the info?
Something or someone that can MAKE money from the info.
This is why I don’t buy a GM, was never a fan of the onstar and I got a car which did not have a built in GPS.
Not that I'm supporting this. The owner should make an informed decision to opt in, not have a decision without his input made by some corporate bureaucrat.
I bought a used truck that has OnStar, but it is not activated. What number do I call to make sure it is not tracking me?
I can buy a nice 1958 or later automobile, rebuilt to be better than new at Carlisle Pa. fall Carlisle.for $20,000 or less and when I sell it get mostof my money back.
No computer to mess with, big car, fun to drive, and have great times with other enthusiasts.
What are you doing DAVE?!
ditto.
I will stick with old cars. Eventually, I suppose, every car will have to have the tracking equipment installed and functioning to get licensed or pass inspections.
Police State.
“Thanks GM, I keep looking at the new Camaro.. but it’s this kind of crap that makes an F-150 look so much better.”
Check out the new Shelby GT500 or F-150 Raptor.
Eventually we will have to file travel plans every time we leave the local area or be stopped for investigation when we go out of area. The USSSA will not come by violent revolution. We, as a people, are pouring it down on ourselves every time we vote.
Tentacles or testicles?
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