On-Star Online to U.S. Government

Bob Barr Website ^ | 12-01-03 | Bob Barr

[stuartcr]

OK, thanks, I thought that if it was an option, and someone didn't want it, they could opt to not buy it. I see now that it could be used whether the service is paid for or not, unless the device was disabled. I would think that detaching the antenna would work, or the power cord.

[freebilly]

Do you guys on the left coast ever sleep?

Not as many people listening to you through the computer monitor in the wee hours....

[CholeraJoe]

Since the device can track your vehicle if it's stolen, I got a good break on my insurance. Guess I was too trusting that they wouldn't track my movements.

[Woahhs]

When you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

Just damn!

[CDHart]

Thanks for the info. As you can tell, I'm technologically challenged, to say the least!

Carolyn

[stuartcr]

Most things have a hidden...even cheap insurance. You could always disable it, but that wouldn't help much if it was stolen.

[stuartcr]

hidden price....sorry

[peteram]

"Uh, sir, I've got the gray Chevy Impala on the line. Care to listen?"
"Sure, Corporal, turn up the volume......"

"Hey you stupid jerk!!! Where'd you get your license, a Cracker Jack box?!? Get out of my way, you slow a**! Why don't you just drive that heap to the next scrap yard!"

[taxed2death]

cell phones on "standby" as well as when they are turned "on" are also personal tracking devices.

just ask Pablo Escobar.

[Myrddin]

First generation OnStar units used a 5 watt AMPS phone with a simple 103 AFSK modem and a GPS. The car could be called and a command sent to retrieve the GPS or unlock the doors. I haven't seen the hardware for the current OnStar devices, but I'm certain it includes a new CDMA cellular phone, an in-band modem whose supplier shall remain nameless and a GPS. In addition, the new OnStar gear has access to the vehicle networks to permit door unlock and query of the diagnostic modules (similar to what a service shop can do). Remote engine diagnostics capability is interesting to fleet owners. Ditto for the theft recovery. Most people buy OnStar for roadside assistance.

[Dead Corpse]

Wasn't the governmnt pushing for an OBD-III standard that would pretty much incorperate the CDMA and a full emissions/performance monitoring system?

On Star is just an "acclimation" product to get you used to the idea. Next, they'll trot out a study showing how much money everyone would save if such systems were mandatory and government controlled. Especially in light of the new Medicare bill just signed.

Bank on it...

[stuartcr]

Remove battery when not in use.

[Myrddin]

The OBD stuff was pushed mostly by California. The auto manufacturers complied so they could sell cars. Small companies such as NetworkCar concocted devices to query the diagnostics off the OBD connector and transmit over RIM modems to monitor emissions. My boss actually built the networking for that program. The idea of remote diagnostics has been pressed by fleet owners. Interfacing the J1850 bus was already necessary to access the remote door unlocks on the new vehicles. Adding a query for diagnostics was just a software upgrade.

Your concern about emissions monitoring is legitimate. NetworkCar was angling to equip all the taxi cabs in Los Angeles because of operators have a long history of poor maintenance. The Air Quality Management District toyed with forcing the cabs to install the equipment as a prerequisite to getting a license to operate. The idea fell flat because the in-vehicle electronics package had too many defects to deploy.

[FierceDraka]

I've gotten by just fine for a long time without any eye-in-the-sky electronic nanny to watch over me. And I see no reason to start using one now.

I also prefer using a revolver over an automatic. Go figure. ;-)

[Donaeus]

I have been wary of OnStar from the first time I heard about it, having a gut feeling there were applications and "benefits" far beyond the ones sold to the public. I will not purchase a car with the system installed even if that means I'll never own a new car.

I didn't think I'd have to deal with GPS on a cell phone because I never planned to buy one. My Dad went out and bought me a high tech cell connected by GPS for Christmas (he's already given it and the billing contract to me). Cell phones have been on my "do not buy list" since my parents told me several years ago that a couple of high ranking DemocRATs (you can easily guess who they are) wanted every American to have one.... Their dream is becoming a reality and offers more bells and whistles than they could have imagined. I have no desire to pay for another layer of Big Brother's watchnet or wearing an antenna for their convenience.

Another issue dealing with invasion of privacy are RFID tags and grocery store "loyalty" cards. I've been on my soapbox long enough so I'll leave the URL for anyone who's interested http://www.nocards.org/ The information is researched and documented by the site's owner, a graduate student in business, Katherine Albrecht who is working to make consumers aware of what card programs and RFID really entail. She has been featured in business periodicals and on radio shows across the country.

[stuartcr]

Since you never planned to buy a cell phone, just don't use it.

[HeadOn]

I've disconnected the antenna and the data cord on mine, simply because some idiot would dial a wrong number every once in a while, and my radio would stop playing and "ring" at me....

Of course, I'm not complaining that it disabled the locator at the same time... I'm not a big tin foil user, and I'm not a criminal, but I don't like to make it easy for people to snoop on me.

And all you folks who say you have nothing to hide... Do you leave your shades open all the time, and leave big notes on the door to tell the burglars when you aren't home? - I didn't think so. It's not about what we have to hide, folks, it's about what they have NO RIGHT to do!

I really think every United States citizen ought to read and re-read Orwell's "1984" every few years.

[aruanan]

Don't you have to buy one of these first, or do they come free with the vehicle?

I've never been in a high enough income class to know the answer to either part of your question.

[wayoverontheright]

The FBI and other police agencies have been using these factory-installed tracking systems as a way to eavesdrop on passengers in vehicles, without the folks in the car even knowing the government was listening to their conversations!

This is a little bit sensationalist. I work for GM, am familiar with this technology, NONE of the voice communication takes place over satelite, it is all cellular. Our cell phone conversations have been subject to FBI eavesdropping from the beginning, Barr even seems to be implying that our conversations WITHIN THE CAR, with the OnStar inactivated, can be heard using OnStar, and this is absurd.

The voice communication is completely separate from the GPS function.

[stuartcr]

They probably won't come to get you then.