On-Star to keep tracking your vehicle after you end contract.

**Belmont31R** · 09-20-11, 21:45

Curious to how this is legal but then again I remember the gov and UAW own this company so they are the law.

Also curious since Ive never bought a GM vehicle but is there extra paperwork for the on star when you buy the vehicle that subjects you to the privacy policy changes cited in the article? If there are would they refuse a sale of a 60k Denali because you wont sign the On Star papers?

As far as Im concerned IF I bought a vehicle with On Star, and didn't want any On Star services at the time of purchase they should be paying ME to sell my vehicle use habits for profit since Im making them money.

If they can just change the privacy policy at will whats to stop them from selling the data to insurance providers to report individual vehicle data?

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.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...ar-tracks-you/

I personally think its only a matter of time before usage bugs become standard across the board to get insurance either through mandate (pol kick backs) or insurance companies see a profit in it.

**Caeser25** · 09-20-11, 22:42

The number 1 reason I never bought a car with onstar, it was only a matter of time before it was actually true.

**Moose-Knuckle** · 09-21-11, 04:09

10 ways the government watches you.

I know I feel "safer".

**Irish** · 09-21-11, 10:53

Cut the wires to the unit. They'll be selling this info to insurance companies and police in no time. From the article:

Adam Denison, a spokesman for the General Motors subsidiary, said OnStar does not currently sell customer data, but it reserves that right. He said both the new and old privacy policies allow OnStar to chronicle a vehicle’s every movement and its speed, though it’s not clear where that’s stated in the old policy.

Collecting location and speed data via GPS might also create a treasure trove of data that could be used in criminal and civil cases. One could also imagine an eager police chief acquiring the data to issue speeding tickets en masse...

“They added a bullet point allowing them to collect any data for any purpose,” he said.

**ralph** · 09-21-11, 19:54

I traded my truck that had Onstar, they can track it all they want..The new truck I bought, ('11 GMC Serria 4wd) did'nt have Onstar, and frankly, I don't want it. I'll never have it again..