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Ford Exec: 'We Know Everyone Who Breaks the Law' Thanks To Our GPS In Your Car
An anonymous reader sends this report from Business Insider:
"[Ford VP Jim Farley] was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its customers, and illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order to avoid raising privacy concerns: 'We know everyone who breaks the law, we know when you're doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what you're doing. By the way, we don't supply that data to anyone,' he told attendees. Rather, he said, he imagined a day when the data might be used anonymously and in aggregate to help other marketers with traffic related problems. Suppose a stadium is holding an event; knowing how much traffic is making its way toward the arena might help the venue change its parking lot resources accordingly, he said."
Farley later realized how his statement sounded, and added, "We do not track our customers in their cars without their approval or consent."
Farley later realized how his statement sounded, and added, "We do not track our customers in their cars without their approval or consent."
Approval or consent, English-American, verb: To use. To accept the licensing terms. To look at. To think about.
#fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
I guess that's one way of getting yourself fired.
If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
What I want to know is, Why does Ford need this data? I understand why people would have a GPS in their car, and why a recording of their actions might be stored on the car (although even more than a short history should be easily erased), but why doesn't this information need to be transmitted back to the car company at all? I bet most people, when asked about whether or not they want a GPS system are not told that the GPS will send information back to the manufacturer about their every movement.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
Don't buy ford.
I, an active professor and research scientist, drive a 1982 Dodge Ram Pickup. No tracking, no disconnect, easy to work on engine. I will keep this baby going for the rest of my life, and no company will be tracking my whereabouts. (So long as I remember to turn off my cell phone, which I usually do.)
I am the penguin that codes in the night.
As a consumer, why would this entice me to purchase a car from Ford?
Meaning it's listed somewhere in the bill of sale. "Well you bought the car, didn't you? There's your consent"
If Ford knows people are committing crimes, aren't they legally required to report it, otherwise they become an accessory..?
MABASPLOOM!
So, if Ford gets a court order requiring the tracking of someone, or some class of someones, they will disobey it?
Sure. And all Fords get 1000 miles per gallon, too.
Look for the scenes in new mob movies where part of the initiation into the mafia is taking the GPS out of your car.
Of course they don't track the customer. What they track is the vehicle,,, and the vehicle has no rights.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
I wonder if they are going to put methane detectors in the seat cushions? ...and smoke detectors???
Dear Microlimp: I give you 2 valid product keys for win7 and you reject both of them. Piss off you wankers!!!
The first thing I'll be doing is hunting around with ball-peen hammer for the GPS module.
The end.
Not if you have a spouse. [Annoyed grunt] They really don't care for principled economic losses (in this case, resale value). Ignorance-based losses (like not changing the oil) they're cool with. Principle, no.
I am not a crackpot.
completely failing to mention the compromise in freedom.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
One reason car companies collect this data is to steal the car back from you (repossess it) in the event of non-payment. The GPS tracking is often turned over to the Repo operators when they need to go steal your car back.
GPS is not 2 way communication. How exactly are they retrieving the information from a car? Do they have a secret cellular connection?
The solution will never happen. There is only two ways it'll happen:
1. Boards stop that horseshit but they won't. They'll take care of their buddies and BS the shareholders by saying "We NEED to offer those compensation packages in order to get the best talent." And we all know that CEO talent has very little to do with business performance - although, the runup of Yahoo! because Meyer being hired - and no improvement in company fundamentals - showed the stupidity of Wall Street.
2. Regulation - which won't happen because the majority of Americans are under the delusion that all they have to do is work harder and they can one day be in that position and therefore; any laws in that regard will hurt them down the line. And also, the propaganda about "Socialism" and what have you from the business/money'ed class' mouthpieces in the media.
Suppose a stadium is holding an event; knowing how much traffic is making its way toward the arena might help the venue change its parking lot resources accordingly, he said.
... or you could just count the number of tickets sold.
Inkjet printer ink?
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
HEY BUDDY , can you kindly get your ass out of the PASSING LANE?!!!
Do you think I've been flicking my high beams out you the last two miles for my own amusement?!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
How about accidental damage to the GPS unit as I am changing the oil?
I had the same plan, keep my car until it was dead. Problem was, the death of my car happened a lot sooner than I envisioned.
Someone on the freeway was inattentive and slammed into me during a traffic slowdown. Result? Car totalled (and very minor damage to me, which I guess is kudos for Toyota.)
I don't think my new "used" car has a GPS in it, but one might've got snuck in without me knowing.
Good luck keeping your car "forever".
--PeterM
You must mean 'Rule #37: IF DATA IS COLLECTED, THE NSA HAS A COPY OF IT'.
Rules #35 and #36 are already taken.
- For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat
Better strategy: Start to buy a Ford. Then ask them to disable the tracking as a condition of sale. When they say no (can't/won't), leave.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
Somewhere in this car is a chip that is wirelessly communicating with Ford.
Where is it?
Simply insulating the radio transmitter should silence it. Simple task.
And something you might be happy to pay your mechanic to do... heck... some metallic paint might work. Spray the little bastard.
I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
Why do I need to rely on signs in this day and age? Why doesn't my car display the speed limit wherever I am? Its frustrating to be in an industrial area and find that you are speeding because the limit dropped to 25 for no reason.
...is where to place the drill bit and how deep to go.
Those bubbles you see around you are not soap bubbles.
Is that they adjust speed limits accordingly. After all if Ford sees the 90th quintile regularly exceeding posted speed limits maybe they could put some pressure on the NHTSA and the Federal Government to stop dicking with speed limits on highways.
Many of our speed limits are set artificially low. The reasons for this are many, including of course ticket revenue and ostensibly 'safety'.
But cars today are a very far cry from cars that were around back then. Think for a moment, cars now have ABS, passive restraint, traction control, and many have semi-autonomous control of breaking and even steering. So by that argument speed limits should go up.
Add to this - I remember when speed limits in urban areas in the late 1960's and early 1970's were 70MPH.
Puzzle me this though - why is it in Germany where much of the Autobahn has now maximum speed limit the highway deaths are lower than in the United States where we have these artificially low speed limits? Could it be it costs around $2,000 in Germany to get a license?