New Usage-Based Insurance Software Can Track Drivers Using Smartphones

Lucas123 (935744) writes A new software platform released by one of the nation's largest insurance roadside services providers will allow insurers to track drivers through smartphone sensors and geolocation services in order to offer good driver incentives or emergency roadside assistance. The tracking software is similar to technology currently offered by State Farm's In-Drive and Progressive's Snapshot program, but the latter uses a hardware collection device that plugs into a vehicle's standard OBDII onboard diagnostics port. The new software platform from Agero travels with the driver in and out of the car, so that if a customer is in an accident emergency services are still contacted.

Comments

Nope!

[Anonymous Coward]

Over my dead body! George Orwell is turning in his grave!

Re:Nope!

[JosKarith]

My old employer - one of the biggest insurance firms in the UK - has been running stuff like this for years. A little app on your smartphone that analyses your driving style for minor infractions and squeals back to the company so they can produce evidence for why your premiums have shot up...
And of course to get it working they tested it on... the call center staff. Seriously, any call center staff who had company insurance had to agree to this sh1t being installed on their mobiles to qualify for the staff discount during its testing phase. And the claims of anonymisation of data for the testing were proven to be BS the day the leaderboards of "Who's the safest drivers in XXX team" started going up to shame staff members who weren't good little boys and girls.

Re:Nope!

[kheldan]

I second the motion; fuck that. We're already 'tracked' in enough ways we (apparently) can't control, I'll be damned if I do it willingly. As is I'm getting fucking sick and fed up with feeling more and more every year like we're animals in a zoo or criminals in a prison.

Re:Nope!

[waspleg]

The UK seems to be winning the race to the bottom for the dystopian nightmare where our gov't use all our technology against us... For our own good, not total power of course.

Don't need to track

[Mr D from 63]

No need to track to help roadside assistance. All you need to know is where the car is at the time it needs assistance.

1..2..3.. until massive security breaches

[sinij]

This is just another attack surface on my privacy and in case of OBD-II devices on my safety.

Insurances are not in business to save you money, they are also no in business of securing data or massive distributed sensor networks. Best case scenario - you will save $5/mo while your car/cellphone ends up sending out spam, worst case scenario you will die in a flaming wreck when someone in CN remotely turns your auto-parking feature while you are driving at 75mph.

Re:1..2..3.. until massive security breaches

[Mr D from 63]

"Saving money" = "raising rates less"

Re:1..2..3.. until massive security breaches

[Vitriol Angst]

I wonder if this will be like the "consumer loyalty cards" at the grocery store;
1) Lower price with loyalty card.
2) Raise Prices such that those with loyalty card are paying the same old price and others are penalized.
3) Establish in customer's minds that giving up data about their habits SAVES them money.

The "you can have a discount if" policies from Insurance companies will likely be followed by subtle increase in rates.If you want privacy, you can pay ridiculous amounts of money.

And in this case, they will likely use evidence to withhold payouts and support for people in a legal disclaimer somewhere, which they can now better prove because they've tracked you. AAA can tell you were here when you called, and now your care is on the road because you rolled it away from the gas station; no tow truck for you!

Re:1..2..3.. until massive security breaches

[wiredlogic]

The OBD-II readers aren't a safety threat. They only monitor sensor readings and special modes for updating ECUs cannot be accessed when a vehicle is moving or by general purpose diagnostic devices which these readers present themselves as. Airbag systems are implemented on a completely separate network using a special low-latency protocol.

Re:1..2..3.. until massive security breaches

[sinij]

The OBD-II dongles are not a threat until Metasploit module exploiting this overflow or that out of bound write comes out and cars start crashing. OBD of modern cars have been successfully exploited, considering that cars can easily stay on the road 15+ years and automotive industry only now started taking rudimentary first steps to secure it, it will be 20+ years until such dongles will be safe to use for general public.

Like I want them to know where I am 24x7...

[Paleolibertarian]

Which I don't. If I need them I'll call them. Only an idiot want's to be tracked.

Edwin

Re:Like I want them to know where I am 24x7...

[sinij]

Dear Edwin,

We have noticed that in the past 30 days you have parked twice near a bar. We regret to inform you that as a result your premium increased by GAZILLION DOLLARS and this information was added to your permanent driving record so you will never be able to get insurance anywhere else again.

Sincerely,

Your Insurance Company

Re:Interesting, if optional

[Mr D from 63]

As for the insurance tracking, its optional until the point where the cost of opting out becomes too much.

Re:Interesting, if optional

[Somebody Is Using My]

It's optional today. It'll be mandatory tomorrow.

Get the consumers used to the idea of being tracked and lead them in the direction you want to go with a carrot in the form of a tiny financial incentive (make up for the lost revenue by increasing insurance rates in general so these "savings" are swallowed up by higher average costs).

Then once you have enough people subscribed to the tracking, start making the tracking a part of any plan for /new/ users (possibly with an option to stop being tracked after a few years, with a substantial rate hike of course). After all, the insurance company has no idea if you are a good driver or not so it is only in their best interest for them to gather as much information on you as they can. After all, the company is taking a big risk by offering you insurance, you understand.

Later, force tracking on any existing users who don't already have it. Stop offering any discounts for its use; if the consumer wants insurance, they better prepare to have their every move tracked.

Meanwhile, make sure to use all this collected information for the company's maximum financial benefit. Sift it for every possible marketing use. Sell it to other companies. Deny coverage because it incriminates the user without checking to see if it is actually accurate. That sort of thing.

This is the way it always works, creeping slowly ahead to the detriment of the customer. The only way to stop this sort of thing is to squash it before it gets started.

Re:where do i sign up?

[bws111]

Don't know about this app, but Progressive and State Farm do tell you what they monitor. State Farm (at least) also provides you with a 'dashboard' so you can see the data, along with how it will affect your rates.

Progressive monitors hard braking, miles driven per day, and how often you drive between midnight and 4AM.

State Farm monitors braking, acceleration, left and right turns, time of day vehicle is driven, and speed over 80MPH

I was ...

[PPH]

... pulled over leaving the airport for having previously been doing 600 MPH.

Shut phone off when driving

[chaosdivine69]

Sorry, but isn't there a law about distracted driving? So why not adhere to the rule and be a good little boy/girl and shut the damn thing off while driving. Turn it on when parked. They can't complain about it then since you are "just complying with the law". Oh, and if you need a GPS for your job, bring your own dash mount style. Give the fuckers nothing...

Re: where do i sign up?

[DigiShaman]

Speed over 80MPh!?? That practically 1 and what, 200 drivers in the left lane during non-rush hour in Houston. That's substantial!