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Privacy Experts Shun Black Boxes (electronic data recorders now mandatory in all cars)
FoxNews ^ | Nov. 11, 2004 | Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

Posted on 11/11/2004 8:04:52 AM PST by FairOpinion

Some safety and privacy experts are reacting with apprehension, others with all out condemnation over a recent ruling by the National Transportation Safety Board to require electronic data recorders or "black boxes" in all new cars manufactured in the United States.

"I take offense that this personal property of individuals is now being designed by the federal government," said Jim Harper, privacy attorney and editor of Privacilla.org.

EDRs are certainly not new. Information gathered on black boxes — typically everything from speed, brake pressure, seat belt use and air bag deployment — has already been used in determining guilt in criminal and civil cases across the country.

Privacy experts warn that once cars are outfitted for the most limited data recording, the government will find a way to argue it’s for drivers’ "own good" to collect more. They point to a push in recent years to install GPS in all cars so that emergency officials can easily find incapacitated accident victims.

"When you are telling someone it is for their own good, then it should be their own choice, they should be able to say ‘no,’" said professor Yale Kamisar of the University of Michigan Law School. "None of these things work out the way they are supposed to. Why should we believe all of these assurances when they haven’t been honored in the past?"

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carindustry; cars; datarecorder; gps; ntsb; privacy
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To: Fierce Allegiance

Another reason to keep my old clunker going.


21 posted on 11/11/2004 8:23:29 AM PST by Sybeck1 (Victory!!)
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To: FairOpinion; All

I agree with you on the Government part. They have no business in my car at all...


22 posted on 11/11/2004 8:23:46 AM PST by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: FairOpinion

Government's business? NO.

But these boxes will slow down lawsuits from greedy plaintffs who injure themselves while driving recklessly. When these folks try to claim they were going "about the speed limit", we will be able to do more than just roll our eyes and sigh.


23 posted on 11/11/2004 8:25:48 AM PST by BenLurkin (Big government is still a big problem.)
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To: Old Professer

DON'T give them any ideas. I'm already covered up in spyware from @$$hole internet "businessmen" trying to sell me unwanted crap. This would be just one more intrusion into my right not to have messages jammed into my brain.


24 posted on 11/11/2004 8:26:00 AM PST by Hardastarboard
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To: FairOpinion

I know I'm going to be the odd man out on this one but I would love to see this technology on my husband's vehicle. He drives WAY too fast and nothing will slow him down. This might do the trick.

I wouldn't care if it was on my vehicle as I have nothing to hide.


25 posted on 11/11/2004 8:26:35 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: FairOpinion

I agree as well, but can someone explain what a "privacy expert" is? Sounds invasive...


26 posted on 11/11/2004 8:27:05 AM PST by blink182prj
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To: FairOpinion
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.

Oh, but they're not intruding into your privacy, they're "regulating commerce among the several states". Ain't the New Deal great?

27 posted on 11/11/2004 8:27:32 AM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: FairOpinion
Government fleet vehicles exempt I'm sure.

I've got a different philosophy on this one. A five thousand volt jolt from my livestock fence charger will make short life of any such device. Unless it's an in series link to the car's ignition system, it's toast. That or you can remove it and keep it powered while it sits in your closet for a decade, skewing the numbers of data collection once you put it back into the car before trading it in or selling it.

28 posted on 11/11/2004 8:28:33 AM PST by blackdog (Can we possibly have just one more "Kidz-Bop"?)
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To: All

...yet you're the same people who cheerlead for the Patriot Act.

What's good for the goose...


29 posted on 11/11/2004 8:29:38 AM PST by El Conservador ("No blood for oil!"... Then don't drive, you moron!!!)
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To: FairOpinion

They imbed it with the main computer.

I found that all new GM cars have Onstar built in. When you license OnStar you are in effect only buying the User Interface. The Guts are in every car. They can actually call your car while driving un-benownst to you, find your location and listen to you conversations.

There is a company that sells a disabling unit. Buy Stock now.


30 posted on 11/11/2004 8:30:24 AM PST by JustAnotherOkie
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To: FairOpinion

Just one more reason to keep driving my pre-computer vehicles.


31 posted on 11/11/2004 8:30:30 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (I'm from North Dakota and I'm all FOR Global Warming! Bring it ON!)
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To: FairOpinion

Jay-zus! All the more reason to keep riding my motorcycle and leave the damn cage at home.


32 posted on 11/11/2004 8:31:00 AM PST by Another-MA-Conservative
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To: Fierce Allegiance

They imbed it with the main computer.

I found that all new GM cars have Onstar built in. When you license OnStar you are in effect only buying the User Interface. The Guts are in every car. They can actually call your car while driving un-benownst to you, find your location and listen to you conversations.

There is a company that sells a disabling unit. Buy Stock now.


33 posted on 11/11/2004 8:31:41 AM PST by JustAnotherOkie
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To: Mikey_1962

Consider that any car could be located and de activated by satellite then. Then flee from rabid Demonazis hunting you for not letting them teach your second grader how to put a condom on a pickle....


34 posted on 11/11/2004 8:32:07 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (I'm from North Dakota and I'm all FOR Global Warming! Bring it ON!)
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To: FairOpinion

There are already kits out there that allow you to bybass these things. It's not hard.


35 posted on 11/11/2004 8:34:47 AM PST by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Vote for true conservatives!)
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To: FairOpinion

One privacy outrage after the next. I keep thinking people will finally stand up and demand that both parties pass legislation and leave us the hell alone if we aren't breaking the laws.

I'm sick of being spied on and vast conglomerates of private and public organizations collecting information about me.


36 posted on 11/11/2004 8:35:13 AM PST by George W. Bush
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To: Smokin' Joe

Go here to get a complete listing of vehicles with the onboard recorders.
http://www.harristechnical.com/cdr2.htm


37 posted on 11/11/2004 8:35:29 AM PST by blu (Red Counties to Blue Counties.."Can you hear us NOW?")
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To: FairOpinion
Then come the recorders and cameras in your home, to make sure you are eating healthy and exercizing.

Yeah, but it's for our own good.

38 posted on 11/11/2004 8:35:48 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: El Conservador
Once you obtain the datastream storage method and communication software, you can shake hands with the thing and download the GPS coordinates which place Hillary Clinton's car at Fort Marcy Park on a certain day, or John Kerry's SUV to finally place him in Cambodia. You can download false speed data, something like constant 150mph, or that the brakes never worked at all.

The more sophisticated the technology the more endless the recreational ways to play with it.

39 posted on 11/11/2004 8:36:13 AM PST by blackdog (Can we possibly have just one more "Kidz-Bop"?)
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To: KevinDavis

ha ha agreed, read my tag-line.
The Capt.


40 posted on 11/11/2004 8:37:02 AM PST by Capt.YankeeMike (get outta my pocket, outta my car, and outta the schools)
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