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Allstate Patents Physiological Data Collection
TigerPlish writes: Allstate has been granted patent no. US 20140080100 A1 for a "driving-behavior database that it said might be useful for health insurers, lenders, credit-rating agencies, marketers and potential employers." The program is just in the patent stage for now, but the company says: "the invention has the potential to evaluate drivers' physiological data, including heart rate, blood pressure and electrocardiogram signals, which could be recorded from steering wheel sensors." Imagine a world where you are denied employment or credit based on the information obtained from your car and sold by your insurer. What could possibly go wrong?
what could go wronger?
and who in the right mind would buy a car with wheel sensors?
and would privacy advocates prevail to keep this from ever entering the market?
what would keep someone from just putting gloves on so it cant read the pulse on your hand?
New slogan:
"Good hands are up your [bleep] with Allstate."
Table-ized A.I.
the linked document is the publication copy, not the issued patent. the issued patent is as cited above, which issued on June 9.
on first blush the claims seem pretty limited to speed/acceleration and location/speed.
I'd bet there's a continuation in the works on this one, going for broader claims.
Insurance companies SHOULD NOT be in the business of patenting anything. All they really are is a subsidiary of the financial industry. They make and contribute nothing while taking exorbitant amounts of our money.
Well, the good news is that by the time they get this working, we'll all have self-driving cars. The bad news is that we'll all have self-driving cars.
I'm also curious if this runs afoul of HIPAA privacy rules. They may only be able to sell it using an opt-in clause. Also, the penalty for not opting-in cannot be significant because it could be seen as coercion by a judge.
This is just one more reason why this country needs a privacy amendment in the constitution. Corporations should not be allowed to sell private personal data to other corporations or to the government without prior approval. It is sad that the EU is so far ahead of the US on this issue.
Do we need an extra constitutional right to the control of, and knowledge about, personally-identified data collected about us?
Good luck with that I know, given that we're all face-taggable by facebook, google, and the local police department already, not to mention the feds.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
Like I needed another.
"To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
The insurance industry already has a clearinghouse of information on people similar to the credit bureaus. Rates, especially for car insurance, are increasingly determined by a subset of your credit score (the "insurance score.") They already know your history with other insurance companies, which can make it very hard to find another carrier at reasonable rates if you are dropped. Also, every state's DMV has records on every reported accident and theft. So, you're tracked an awful lot when you buy insurance anyway. I don't do the whole data collection thing, simply because I know I drive in heavy traffic with aggressive drivers, and having to stop for them would negate any savings. Having good credit really does help though...insurance is cheap if you can maintain your credit.
Not that I agree with it, but Allstate is smart to take out a patent on "quantifiable self" data for 2 reasons:
- Future customers coming of age now show very little concern about privacy, or at least they prefer the convenience of "free" services and an always-on gadget in their pocket. This means that there will slowly be less resistance to it.
- Let's face it, one day soon self-driving cars will be a thing. With a computer doing the driving, the overwhelming cause of accidents now will be people who continue to manually drive. Those people will probably end up causing a lot more damage because they will get into bigger accidents.
It's only one leap from car insurance to life insurance though -- I'm not sure that will go over well. Since all insurers are basically placing a bet that you won't file a claim, or in the case of life insurance, you'll pay enough in premiums to cover the inevitable, this would really stack the deck in their favor.
Just sign this crap ton of forms.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
haha. I am in Florida, no inspection stickers! FTW
Why is no-one challenging the de facto theft of personal information? I don't care by who or how the data is recorded, it belongs to me and anyone who wants to use it needs my permission.
In some cases, such as a doctor ordering lab tests, I will give that permission gratis. In other cases, such as any of the Web page leeches, I will require payment.
It might be fun if a few tens of thousands of us start blasting out DMCA takedown notices whenever we see a tracking cookie on a Web page.
Bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
Why? you can already be denied employment for any reason in right to work states and importantly fired for any reason or not...
You say that like it's bad thing.
My entire working life (44 years and counting) has been in either a right to work state or in a non-union field. I have never had sympathy for the "I'm owed a job, whether the employer want's me or not!" whine.
I've worked for a number of employers who didn't have the sense to see my value. In some cases, I was let go for no discernible reason or I walked away and looked for a better job. I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't want to work for someone who doesn't want me around in the same way I damn sure don't want to be forced to work somewhere I hate. I might not like a job, but I have enough sense to appreciate it while I look for another gig.
Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
The good news is that if Allstate patents this "invention", then All State will be the only ones who can do it. I don't nor do I have to do business with Allstate. The other bad news is if they decide to license this...
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
It will be state mandated or company mandated to obtain legal insurance.
That's a lot of big words, but all I can hear is HIPAA violation!
Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
Detected a possible crash in the next 6 seconds - your insurance has been cancelled. Have a great day.
Website Just Down For Me? Find out
just making a point. If enough people start saying "enough" already to these kinds of intrusions into your personal information, now presumably to include physiological data, then others will follow suit. A background check of your driving record and accident history should be the only things necessary to ascertain your risk factors in operating a car. If you have a serious medical condition there are laws that prohibit you from operating a vehicle. Insofar as right to work I have no problem being "at will" but terminations should have cause that is directly related to job performance. The rest I'm in full agreement with.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
They may only be able to sell it using an opt-in clause. Also, the penalty for not opting-in cannot be significant because it could be seen as coercion by a judge.
Then don't buy their product and go to someone else.. Oh wait, they're doing the same thing too. At the point that it becomes "normal" then it will reflect on you as "what have you to hide?" meaning that it'll take a large legal challenge to get this information gathering and dissemination stopped. This isn't data that they need, this is data that Allstate wants so it can create a market. Just like the big three credit reporting agencies segmenting your buying habits and your ability to buy new things and sell them. https://www.experian.com/busin...
What has to happen is the direct and indirect assaults on our privacy need to be stopped and I'm afraid that'll take a constitutional amendment because nobody in DC has the balls to stop it.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
My faith in human drivers is low enough that I'm eagerly awaiting autonomous cars.
The most dangerous part of traveling by car these days is the inattentive pile of rage controlling it.
I know I'd rather give up driving than have my medical data go up for sale.
-- Sometimes you have to turn the lights off in order to see.
"Shoppers could be facing huge amounts of junk mail which specifically targets their internet browsing habits, under plans being trialled by Royal Mail.
The firm is to deliver personalised letters to potential customers, advertising products that they have previously viewed online." ref
Only inspections here are literally emissions tests, and there are protocols to perform emissions tests on non-OBD-II vehicles already.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
The new glorious world of big data and data analytics has one small problem. Just because you have a ton of data doesn't mean that there is any useful information in it. Really, what are companies going to be able to glean from such a database? That some peoples heart rate goes up when they drive? Which means what?
Insurance companies are the original big data users. Actuarial science is all based on the premise that it is possible to predict the likely outcome for an individual through the statistical analysis of the larger group. They have been doing this quite successfully/profitably since the 1700's. There is a definite point of diminishing return between increased revenue by identifying higher risk individuals and the costs associated with implementing those programs. If it costs $1 million to implement you would need to identify 10,000 people and charge them an extra $100 just to break even. If they can find a competitor whose rate is less than that $100 increase and leave then you start losing money, and not just the $100 but the original premium as well.
A lot of people are under the misconception that all they need to do is gather data and they will then be able to sell it. But the data has to be useful and I just don't see it in this case.
Average Intelligence is a Scary Thing
I'm sick of all the fees, insurances, registrations, etc. needed just to drive a fucking car. I also don't want to take it even further and have a car that's monitoring my fucking body. Jesus, let's get rid of the human factor that's creating nothing but a financial burden on those who commute.
Can we just come up with a method of transportation that relies on a (very, very, very well tested) network of systems that direct traffic and control vehicles? I don't care if it's a self driving car, a rail/conveyer system that uses the horribly ineffective carpool lanes that latches onto cars' tow clips, or a ski-lift style system suspended above roads that zip individuals around, or an "order-a-drone" program where you can fly in an (otherwise unmanned) drone and control source+destination with an app...speed trains, ....I could probably think of more. The point is, with 19 years of heavy driving experience all around California, I have come to the conclusion that a well developed, automated vehicle control + transportation system would probably yield far less (fatal or otherwise) accidents on the roadways. If we can create a network switch that allows billions of individual packets through without collisions, we can surely do the same with this.
Besides, I want my commute time to be relaxing and not have to have my brain be alert for the critical job of driving safely. Hell, I want to (legally) have a beer (or 3) on my way home and text at the same time. I want to call my wife and talk with my kids without pausing to have to honk and call 9-1-1 at some drunk moron in front of me crossing over the double yellow line, putting MY life in danger. I want to lie down and take a nap. I want wifi, too.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
Same with Washington State. No inspection stickers, just an emissions test on vehicles newer than 25 years.
Older than that and it's rip out all the shit and aftermarket speed equipment all the way down.....
Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
Not suprising....
Allstate hasn't been the same since they hired McKinsey and Co to optimize profits ahead of customer value. When Allstate was a part of Sears, they actually offered good value for the money. Now they are big into information asymettry and cherry picking as that can get them the customers who will pay list+ where there is little to no risk. I haven't done business with them for years.
Just in time for the self-driving car revolution!
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
They aren't going to be collecting any data from me... ... except in an emergency. So their baseline data for me will be huge levels of adrenaline and a heart rate close to 200. Hmm... that's probably not ideal either.
That would be an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States for Personal Privacy, but such a thing is less realistic than childhood imaginary friends (especially the ones you knew were imaginary from the get go).
I have no secrets because I can't have any...
BlameBillCosby.com
they're all snakes.
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
Don't VOTE GOP or your health insurers will just look for ways to blacklist you or even wait for you to get sick and use BS like this to say it's a pre existing condition
I do not think they can kill a patent just because they do not like what it may possibly be used for.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
This is health data. They can not sell it. (Stop laughing now.) It is protected... You know, HIPAA is meant to sto... (Seriously, stop laughing.)
Let's try this again. Allstate can not release or sell... They need release forms and...
You know what? Screw it.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Then some kid runs out in front of you and you lock up the brakes (you know that is going to be recorded too). The insurance company now nails you for fraud both in civil court and the state gets you in criminal court. The only winning way is to not pay. I like the bonding or self-insuring schemes out there. I wonder if a local co-op would be good.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Never thought I'd say this, but looks like Public Transportation might be the better choice.
Be seeing you...
Just pushing the location of the the center of the conversation. A standard technique.
At the very least, one should be able to sue (perhaps in class action) for the unauthorized sale and disclosure of such information to 3rd parties.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
at least the DEM will let you get on Medicaid under the GOP System you need to be on disability.