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OnStar Reverses ToS Changes
First time accepted submitter BlackWind writes "It seems that even Government Motors is smart enough to figure out when they've gone too far. GM announced that the OnStar service will revert to their previous Terms of Service in the wake of the firestorm of criticism that their plan to sell GPS data created."
I'd bet GM will be making an extra large contribution to Schumer's campaign this year. If Schumer was really serious about doing anything but shaking down GM, he would have introduced legislation prohibiting vehicle tracking. But that's not going to happen obviously.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Removing it from the ToS does not necessarily means they won't sell the data.
Dear OnStar (and anybody AT&T else thinking GOOGLE about doing FACEBOOK something similar):
Did you really think we wouldn't notice?
Love,
The People Who Are Watching Your Smug Privacy-Raping Asses
Everybody gets what the majority deserves.
Initially, I read the TOS very quickly, and didn't notice the rewrite specifics. Due to reading the actual TOS a second time, I called all the way from Europe to cancel the service on my car that sits idle (pardon the pun) in Southern California. When I get back, I plan to rip the RF device out of the car.
Insurance can't be trusted, and I know they'll be buying the data. Geo spatial analysis will make it insanely easy to un-anonimize the data, and as we've seen very recently, when a company is bought or sold, the new owners like to re-define the rules of engagement. Right now, insurance asks for all your medical data during a claim, what's to stop them from pooling, analyzing, and/or asking for this data pertaining to your driving? Nothing.
The interesting thing is the On-Star support person said three times, "The information is only released with your consent." I replied all three times, "That's what your old TOS said. With all due respect, I appreciate your efforts, however I have an exceptionally firm grasp of the English language, and it very specifically states the data can be sold at GM's discretion OR with my consent. Please cancel."
Hmmm...oh well... It's sorta funny they actually corrected course. Netflix obviously didn't learn this lesson or execute a course correction nearly as well.
"For the life of the car" lack of privacy means I would never buy a car with OnStar in my life.
You know, you've got a perfectly good summary going on an important issue, and you go and make yourself look like a child by calling General Motors "Government Motors". Why? Do you honestly think it's clever, or particularly effective at getting your point across?
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
Reading the title of this one, and not knowing who or what OnStar are, I completely thought this was about The Original Series.
Bummer. Dude. Seriously? No Shatner?
From what I read in TFA, they only reverted the part where they continue to track you after you've canceled I saw nothing about them changing their minds about selling your data.
-- Sometimes you have to turn the lights off in order to see.
Given that the vehicles being tracked are all GM vehicles, we should be able to parlay this data into the most intricate map of North American breakdown lanes ever produced.
Just because the ToS changed doesn't mean they're still not going to collect and sell all that data. Now it's just not in the ToS and they'll be a little quieter about who it goes to.
or is this just another case of pushing the limits and seeing how much they can get away with? Also i would like to know if someone or some people are going to continue to monitor to see if they actually are implementing back to the old ToS or are just reverting back to it on paper only yet still using peoples data anyway.
great, there is no more need to use a GPS jammer
If the car is parked at home almost every night.
it allows us to readily identify the childish postings if economically ignorant baggers so we don't have to waste any additional time on their impotent babbling.
Never mod points when you need them.
The reason we subjugate ourselves to law is to better procure justice. If law does not accomplish this purpose then it m
From demonstrated practice, they can change the TOS, sell the data, then revert the TOS. No way to ever know what they give themselves permission to do.
The reason we subjugate ourselves to law is to better procure justice. If law does not accomplish this purpose then it m
The backlash and negative PR actually had an effect.
OnStar is lame, sorry but it is. They've tried to stay relevant by adding "services" which are overpriced and overrated. Sure, they can tie into your OBDII system and let you know if you have a problem, but you also have a check engine light too which for most of us indicates that there's something that needs to be done.
I pulled my OnStar box out and replaced it with another device that now allows me to use my Bluetooth integrated devices in my car so this ToS change didn't bother me, but what does bother me is that they feel that they could pull this BS on people and not get called on it. As a GM owner it's a shame that they haven't gotten rid of their arrogant attitude.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
When the initial term is up, I would not mind continuous monitoring. If the vehicle was stolen, could they locate it. At that point I would pay a finders fee.
Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
If I ever get a car that has OnStar in it, the cables are getting clipped and equipment removed.
These devices (on most cars) have the ability to receive disable signals from the service, in the unfortunate case of being involved in a police chase (LOL). Seriously, no thanks. Wires clipped, in the trash. I'll paint the button a different color.
"Onstar changes course" or "Onstar reverses course of TOS changes"