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.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
I never understood why anybody would want this.
OnStar radio commercials try hard to make surveillance sound like a good thing, but apparently even they can't spin this...
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5 comments:
How long before On-Star type service - or at least equipment - is required?
And like red light cameras - monitored to make sure you're innocent?
Q
Onstar communicates via cellular phone. It shouldn't be too difficult to disconnect the antenna from the unit. On the other hand, why would anyone buy a car from Government Motors in the first place?
My understanding is the antenna is integral to the unit. Can't be disconnected. The tattle tale box that records speed, braking and even steering and GPS info IS mandatory in all new cars and has been for a while. Chrysler calls this a body computer. The goons can access that data with a court order anytime you have a wreck. Or anytime they feel like getting a court order.
That's why I love my Suburban.... no funky big brother equipment.
Buck.
"Snip."
I'm sure someone will come up with a cure for this little disease. Could be quite a profitable business, actually. :)
In the meantime, I have a 12 year old car, no "cell" phone at all, and no other portable electronics to monitor my movements. I'm going to keep it that way.
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