Posted on 11/11/2004 8:04:52 AM PST by FairOpinion
Yet this kind of stuff keeps being decided, without any outcry from anyone.
People who scream to high heaven about some common sense measures against terrorism say nothing about such intrusion in law abiding citizens privacy for absolutely no good reason.
Next they are going to put cameras in your car and record what you do, to makes sure you are not talking on your cell phone, shaving, eating, drinking coffee, while in your car.
Then come the recorders and cameras in your home, to make sure you are eating healthy and exercizing.
1984 only missed it by 20 years.
I would be nice if stolen cars could be identified and de-activated by satellite... no more car chases.
I have never heard about this until now. Only a bueracratic fathead could embrace this sort of legislation.
And maybe if the gov't wanted to talk to you about something else, like taxes or gun ownership, they could shut your car down.
This won't last
Do a search on "OBD III". Interesting and creepy stuff.
OBD II is what's now being used; I think OBD III standards are still being worked out.
Want to make some big money? Start a business which REMOVES these boxes, and nothing else. then sit back and watch as the your bank balance explodes.
"Insurance" is the hammer of Big Brother's toolbox.
"Owners also have no legal protections to keep them from being forced to hand over that information to another party if a court order demanded it.
"I think (owners) have to be told of whatever data there is and what is being retained longterm. What are the storage conditions? Will they keep it confidential or will they have to release information to anybody?" said professor John Soma, director of the Privacy Center (search) at Denver University.
"Without all of these concerns written into it, then obviously the recommendation is completely unacceptable," he said."
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And people aren't even told about it. They may catch this article, or they may not, but there is no notification, when they buy the car, they will just find out the hard way.
And I bet you didn't know this either:
"Black boxes, or "EDRs" have been fitted into every General Motors car in its 2004 line and is in a number of Ford models about 15 percent of all vehicles on the road today, according to road safety experts."
They can make it a felony to temper with the black boxes. Remember, "they are the government and they are here to help us, for our own good".
"We need to record all conversations within the 'cabin' to determine accidents which may have been caused by 'violence against a spouse'"
I have no problem with Car Rental companies doing it...
I'm waiting for the GPS to be turned into an advertising medium; when your "change oil" light comes on, the GPS displays a list of Jiffy Lubes near your location...
I would be willing to bet insurance compaines will void your insurance, and you won't pass inspection if the black box is removed.
I surance companies love this because they can say you were speeding, etc and deny the claim.
Did you know the Gov't can listen in on anyone who has OnStar? Scary stuff, if you ask me.
I'm assuming that's part and parcel to the whole deal.
Bought my wife a new car because, well you know. However, I refuse to drive one. I will only drive cars (trucks) that are over 25 years old. They are rebuilt like new, low personal property taxes, no emmisions test (I can build the engine to have both greater horsepower and to be more efficent), and lower insurance costs. And they're fun to drive.
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