integraguy
integraguy SuperDork
9/28/11 1:06 p.m.

I don't know what other folks think about having "info" about them sold by a company they buy something from...I wish you could check a box somewhere's and prevent the practice.

The last place I lived, the utility company sold your address and a few other bits of info to third parties and as a consequence, I was (like others connected to the same utility system) deluged with junk mail.

I bring this up, because APPARENTLY (until a few members of Congress threathened them) On-Star was planning on selling info they collected about the operator/operation of vehicles equipped with their "services". The story I read, online, said the info was being/would be collected from vehicles EVEN AFTER THE SUBSCRIPTION FOR ON-STAR WAS NO LONGER ACTIVE. (sorry about the "shouting") In their "defense", On-Star said the info would be "anonomyzed" (sp?) so that the third parties would not be able to identify customers/former customers. What was considered for collection? Data on speed, whether seatbelts were being used, when a car was most likely to be used (day of week, time of day).

oldtin
oldtin Dork
9/28/11 1:12 p.m.

In soviet russia cars spy on you and report to government.

In free America, you buy subscription for cars to spy on you - report sold to highest bidder

fasted58
fasted58 Dork
9/28/11 1:20 p.m.

you can choose to opt out, ya know

internet services collect more info than OnStar

I ain't skeered

carguy123
carguy123 SuperDork
9/28/11 1:21 p.m.

At least in mortgages you get a chance to opt out.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
9/28/11 1:40 p.m.

OnStar is easy to opt out of... pull the connector out of the device. In-fact, I butchered mine so I could use the mic and speakers for my hands-free cell phone. Google... the plans are online. It works really well. Probably the only useful thing about Onstar is the leftover hardware.

aircooled
aircooled SuperDork
9/28/11 3:33 p.m.
oldtin wrote: In soviet russia cars spy on you and report to government. In free America, you buy subscription for cars to spy on you - report sold to highest bidder

In Soviet Russia, agents spy on you and report to the government.

In the US, people put every possible personal and private detail on the internet and then complain about how the government and businesses are spying on them.

Strizzo
Strizzo SuperDork
9/28/11 3:52 p.m.

the outrage wasn't so much that they'd sell your info when you're a subscriber, they already did that, the problem became that even if you weren't a subscriber, they would still track you and sell your info. so they're making money off of you regardless of whether or not you're paying them.

+1 on the irony of people posting everything about themselves on a public forum or fb and then getting mad when something like this comes along

fasted58
fasted58 Dork
9/28/11 5:25 p.m.

Schumer only jumped on the soap box for political face time, other than that noise it's a non event. There is a push started to make 'opt out' the default position when unsubscribing.

Tom Heath
Tom Heath Web Manager
9/28/11 5:57 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: OnStar is easy to opt out of... pull the connector out of the device. In-fact, I butchered mine so I could use the mic and speakers for my hands-free cell phone. Google... the plans are online. It works really well. Probably the only useful thing about Onstar is the leftover hardware.

I like this plan. Someday, an Escalade will make an awfully comfortable tow vehicle.

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