Save A Horse, Ride A Secretly Surveilled GM Vehicle
Big Brother applauds GM's secret OnStar surveillance, gathering "private" data to improve lives, profits, and insurance rates. But beware Texas AG Paxton’s privacy crusade—try a horse if you must!
— Orwell (satire) (@goodthink1984) November 14, 2024
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Do you remember that data collection disclosure from the 50-page sales agreement you signed when you bought your GM vehicle?
Few do. But the nerds who managed to read it and opt out of the doubleplusinvasive — but technically legal — data collection practice, had their cars’ safety features deactivated. An apt punishment for proles with the bellyfeel to read the fine print.
Yes! The Onstar feature of your Chevy, which was ostensibly there to provide remote service and security for your car, has been secretly recording your driving habits. Even if you never subscribed to the Onstar service!
This clandestine data coup kills three privacy birds with one stone. It takes your “private” data without telling you, makes money for an approved corporate overlord, and helps insurance companies help you to pay more for their services. It’s win, win… win!
Of course Big Brother’s dream of ultimate automobile obedience is being threatened by glory hound Texas AG Ken Paxton, whose duckspeak foolishly includes fortifying data protections for all Texans, and seeking the destruction of precious, hard-earned stolen data wrought through the deft use of fine print and misdirection.
Hey Ken Paxton, you want privacy? Try riding a horse! We haven’t figured out how to secretly surveil those yet. Though we are working on it.
SYNTAX ERROR
PRINTING JUST THE FACTS
- Texas is suing General Motors (GM) for allegedly collecting and selling sensitive driver data without consent from over 14M vehicles, starting with 2015 models.
- GM reportedly used OnStar diagnostics to create "Driving Scores" for 1.8M drivers, based on behaviors like speeding, braking, and seatbelt use, potentially affecting insurance decisions.
- The lawsuit claims GM used deceptive practices, including misleading customers into mandatory enrollment and burying disclosures in lengthy documents, warning of deactivated safety features if refused.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeks the destruction of improperly collected data, driver compensation, civil fines, and other remedies for violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Sources: Sky News, Design Taxi News, The New York Times CNN, and Reuters.
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