For a few years now, people have questioned the privacy of General Motors’ Onstar product. Since 2004 when Onstar’ signal went satellite, people’s ire has been raised by the information Onstar can gain access to and for whom it is being collected. Paranoia is gaining steam and people are going as far as disarming Onstar themselves to ward off evil big brother. Don’t panic, paranoia is all in your head. Stay calm and read this article to inform yourself so you are better prepared to make a rational decision. Here are the two main complaints of peoples paranoia over GM’s Onstar feature:
Fear #1 The data (where and when the car is driven, speed and driving characteristics) collected from your vehicle can be sent to your insurance company and be used to increase your rates.
Yes Onstar is monitoring your vehicle that is the purpose of Onstar’s safety features. They are monitoring your oil, air bags, and motor functions in order to preempt an engine problem. They are monitoring your location via GPS to find a stolen vehicle, to find you in an accident, and to find a location you may be looking for. With Onstar you are in control, go to their home page, log in and you alone can monitor your mileage. If you drive less than 15000 miles a year you can elect to have that information sent to your insurance company and have your rates reduced. They cannot access this information without your knowledge or consent.
GM’s Onstar states that no other data collected, such as where or when your car is driven, would go to any insurance company. Onstar’s privacy policy states that they are limited to whom they give pertinent privacy information to. Without your consent Onstar cannot give your information to the police, an insurance company or another client.
Fear #2 Big Brother is watching……and listening.
Many people speculate that GM and Onstar can use their abilities to know about your personal life, thus monitoring you like ‘Big Brother’. Critics have raised questions about who can gain access to the information, legally or illegally for surveillance or stalking. The fear is that Onstar’s computer knows where and when, how fast, whether you had a passenger, whether and when you applied the brakes, if and when you air bags deployed. Once again reading their privacy agreement, no case would even make it into court based on any of these findings. If you are guilty, you will undoubtedly be paranoid, but without guilt, there is no cause for alarm.
Another Big Brother fear is whether Onstar can switch on your GM car’s microphone remotely and record any conversation and sound within the vehicle. I suppose they can, but why would they? Voice monitoring capability is another feature marketed on Hands free Calling. The use of this capability by law enforcement has been up for legal debate for years. Onstar maintains that it is unable to listen to, record, and view the content of calls. Legally, this just doesn’t float.
Like in many different aspects of life, a healthy paranoia will keep you safe. Unfortunately though, paranoia has a way of gaining too much steam too quickly and fear can ruin any chance of living happily. GM’s Onstar feature is not the evil imp you fear, it is purely there to make your life easier, and safer. With these features there will always be concessions, what is more important to you? Research and decide for yourself. Information is important to ensure you have made the right choice for you and you family.
Author Resource:
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