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    NY Sen. Schumer accuses OnStar of invading privacy

    By MICHAEL GORMLEY - Associated Press | AP – Sun, Sep 25, 2011

    ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The OnStar automobile communication service used by 6 million Americans maintains its two-way connection with a customer even after the service is discontinued, while reserving the right to sell data from that connection.

    U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York says that's a blatant invasion of privacy and is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. But OnStar says former customers can stop the two-way transmission, and no driving data of customers has been shared or sold.

    "OnStar is attempting one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory," said Schumer, a Democrat. "I urge OnStar to abandon this policy."

    But the General Motors Corp. OnStar service says customers are thoroughly informed of the new practice. If a customer says he or she doesn't want to have data collected after service is ended, OnStar disconnects the tracking.

    And although OnStar reserves the right to share or sell data on customers' speed, location, use of seat belts and other practices, a spokesman says it hasn't done so and doesn't plan to.

    "We apologize for creating any confusion about our terms and conditions," said Joanne Finnor, vice president of subscriber services. "We want to make sure we are as clear with our customers as possible, but it's apparent that we have failed to do this. ... We will continue to be open to their suggestions and concerns."

    A week ago, OnStar changed its policy and began continuing the connection for ex-customers unless they asked for it to be discontinued.

    Finnor noted keeping the two-communication active for former customers could someday allow for emergency messages to be sent even to ex-customers about severe weather or evacuations. The open line could also allow OnStar to alert drivers about warranty information or recalls, she said.

    Schumer said he isn't persuaded. He said customers shouldn't have to "opt out" of the tracking after they end service. He accuses OnStar of actively deceiving customers.

    Schumer is announcing the effort Sunday by releasing a letter to the Federal Trade Commission seeking an investigation.

    OnStar charges about $199 a year for basic service and $299 a year for service that includes navigation aid.

     

    162 comments

    • imjsbnme2
      imjsbnme2  •  Kansas City, United States  •  5 mths ago
      If OnStar (didn't) plan to share or sell data on customers' speed, location, use of seat belts and other practices, why did they (reserve) the right to do so. Another, and as far as I'm concerned, a far more important issue is the fact that OnStar can act as "Big Brother" to track you wherever you go. I found a long time ago that whenever a service, etc., is offered to (protect you for your own good) you will end of losing some of your civil rights... and OnStar is having you pay them to do so!
    • CHUCK T
      CHUCK T  •  8 mths ago
      I cancelled On Star last May and they hit my bank account again this week. I have sent 3 messages but no reply from On Star at this time. It is worrisome.
      • JobsforAmericans
        JobsforAmericans 8 mths ago
        I had Internet/TV with Verizon and cancelled and returned the equipment. They continued to charge me for three months, I called each month after I got the bill. After 2 or 3 hours of transfer, dropped call and put on hold, it was stettled each month. Then the next month, I was charged for an additional month and not credited for the prior month. Then get this, they cancelled my account and sent it to collections. MOre phone calls, but then it was sent to an outside firm. Now, I get debt collectors trying to collect on those three months. Eventually, the bill will expire, but I hope someone takes me to court, I will sue if I can.

        I had ATT/.Verizon for decades for my land line. I cancelled it and will never use them again. I use comcast, who bills by the month, is cheaper, and does not make billing mistakes.
    • Rowell
      Rowell  •  8 mths ago
      QUOTE: "OnStar changed its policy and began continuing the connection for ex-customers unless they asked for it to be discontinued."

      So, if a customer no longer has the service, OnStar can continue to collect information and sell it for a profit. Here's the question though, if the driver with no service gets into a car accident, OnStar will know about it....but will they do anything about it? If not, it's the same thing as a Life Guard at a beach watching someone drown.
      • LMR
        LMR 8 mths ago
        That is a brilliant point Rowell. Clearly they tell us they'll know when someone is in a crash as they're keeping the data stream live. It's ok for them to suck us for information and give us nothing for it- but when presented with the ability to save a life- they won't because we aren't paying them $19/month.

        Actually- I think once injury lawyers get a whiff of this, it will open a whole new pandora's box of liability for GM. Onstar might decide to disconnect such systems on their own after getting sued by thousands of accident drivers who didn't get potentially lifesaving help from GM.
      • Sparky2u
        Sparky2u 8 mths ago
        Great point. I wonder if they can be arrested for failure to render aid.
    • G
      G  •  8 mths ago
      Dear Onstar, if you don't plan on using or selling a given piece of data, why do you need to reserve the right to do so?
      • Readsalot
        Readsalot 8 mths ago
        Because no one has offered them enough money, yet.
    • Other
      Other  •  8 mths ago
      So let me get this straight. A service that the customer pays extra for, that is marketed as a selling feature, can basically track your every move. This service has now decided to change its Terms of Service so that they can sell that tracking information and monitor people without their consent.
      And people are getting upset at the person trying to put a stop to it? And actually defending the company, wow, just wow. Sometimes people just never cease to amaze me, and not in a good way.
      Why is it whenever someone tries to put an end to a questionable practice by a major corporation it is termed a "waste", or you can never argue about the actual issue, but get diverted by something that actually has no bearing on the issue at hand. ex. talking about the auto bailout.
      Is there actually people out there who aren't getting paid by this company that thinks its ok for a large corporation to essentially spy on people and sell the information for money? Putting an end to this kind of practice is part of the reason we have a centralized government, they are supposed to be there to serve the people, not the fat-cash corporations.
      • Joe 6Pack
        Joe 6Pack 8 mths ago
        Basically now in America, anything a business does is Good. They have no ethical standard applied, no practice is off limits, the only goal is to make money by any means. We get angry at churches, government, politicians who are unethical, but corporations are given a free pass. Thank Reagan for starting us down this trip to Wonderland.
      • ATxNFLwatcher
        ATxNFLwatcher 8 mths ago
        Government already collects information on everyone anyway! OnStar's policy is clear. Schumer must be having slow days in the Senate in order to worry about this minuscule matter. How about worrying about insuring the federal government continues to operate beyond Sep 30? Another case of misplaced priorities, but then that's normal for Washington...
      • RAMROD
        RAMROD 8 mths ago
        Not only that, they track EX-customers still, and they have to call and cancel the tracking after they are already not a customer! That's like having to call to cancel your cell phone provider from tracking your phone after you already closed your service with them. Very very shady. Tracking with permission is one thing, retroactively tracking cancelled customers without consent is another. #$%$ Facebook for setting so many retroactive privacy change precedences!
    • no1spshul
      no1spshul  •  8 mths ago
      This is just one of the the many invations of privacy that Americans are experiencing today. Since 9/11 Americans have givien up freedoms and rights to privacy throgh the Patriot Act that no polititon seems to want to admit to with the exception of Ron Paul. I glad to see this senetor is trying to do something about this but he knows well of many other more serious losses of freedom and invasions of privacy. A good place to start is with the Patriot act, it should be repealed, then take a look at the TSA, ATF to name just a few don't stop with on star
      • BillH
        BillH 8 mths ago
        Don't try to blame OnStar on the Patriot Act. OnStar was around several years before 9/11.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 mths ago
      so all that teenie tiny legalese is supposed to be understood by all...I think we would all be shocked over terms and conditions we sign off on, or scroll down and accept.
    • TxMedRgr
      TxMedRgr  •  8 mths ago
      Why "reserve the right" to sell the information if you don't plan to use it in the future?
    • Gnosis
      Gnosis  •  8 mths ago
      YOU are the product! Companies are purchasing information about YOU! This is illegal! It violates privacy laws!
    • JobsforAmericans
      JobsforAmericans  •  8 mths ago
      I am glad I read this article. I will not buy an Onstar car for my lifetime. Smart move GM.
    • Bill
      Bill  •  8 mths ago
      I told my daughter that this technology would be abused and used to violate people's privacy. She didn't believe me. She does now.
    • Steve
      Steve  •  8 mths ago
      How could anyone buy a car with OnStar installed and not realize that data was being collected? If a company can collect data on what you do and where you go, they will do so. Knowledge is valuable. Thus, the reason I won't buy a car with satellite equipment installed. If I want someone to know where I'm at, I'll tell them.
    • neutralparty
      neutralparty  •  8 mths ago
      Most new cars have some type of tracking device in them. Hyundai has "Blue Link," Ford has "Sync," Buick has "Onstar," they ALL have some form of tracking device in them now. Even your phone -- especially iPhone's have tracking inside them that can tell someone every, single place you've been since you first purchased your phone. It's all around us now, and we have bought it, accepted it, and we use it daily -- I, too, am guilty. Facebook is working on learning about your daily habits, who you hang out with, who you are related to, and everything else about you, which is why I dumped my account. We all have a choice, and so far, we have overwhelming voted for this invasion by our complicit purchase and use of these products. Young people cannot imagine a world without many of these devices, so getting your kids to give up their phones, Facebook accounts, and every other "convenience" in the world would be practically impossible. But we all still have a choice.
    • JobsforAmericans
      JobsforAmericans  •  8 mths ago
      Road Maps were a good thing, time to bring them back, at least they will not bug your car. I bet Onstar records all your conversations too. You know they are just recording you, but dont plan to use it or sell that informaton for now.
    • Curmudgeon at large
      Curmudgeon at large  •  8 mths ago
      It's even worse than that. They can listen in on conversations in your car without you knowing about it. Do Not buy a car with On Star or your privacy in your vehicle is Gone!
    • WinstonSmith101
      WinstonSmith101  •  8 mths ago
      But checking the bags of the 99.9999999999999999% of the law abiding citizens as they travel the subway in NYC on/around 9-11-11 now that's OK!!!!!!!!!!
    • RickyRecon
      RickyRecon  •  8 mths ago
      If it were an individual doing this instead of a huge corporation - it would be considered stalking, and the perpetrator would b arrested. So why is it any different for this corporation? Because the government buys access to the data too. Visit americans for privacy dot org.
    • Pj
      Pj  •  8 mths ago
      Never had the service, yet after I disconneted the cell antenna and used it for my cell phone cradle, I got a letter from OnStar asking that I should have it checked out as they haven't heard from me in two months. Its nice that the GM dealer network directly/indirectly provides current address info from the VIN.
    • Conservative By Nature
      Conservative By Nature  •  8 mths ago
      On Star is big brother. Why would anyone voluntarily be tracked by anyone? They always sell this invasive crap as being "good" for you. Sure, in the beginning it is. Thats how they sell it. Eventually it will be abused, probably by our government.
    • R.T. Arcand
      R.T. Arcand  •  8 mths ago
      Be kind of fun to take one apart and skew the data being sent back.
     Post a comment
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