OnStar has recently amended its terms and conditions and, in the process, raised more than a few eyebrows from its customers as well as industry pundits. Specifically, GM’s telematics subsidiary has changed the manner in which it legally can collect location (GPS) data on your OnStar-equipped vehicle, among other items.
Prior to the updated terms, OnStar only gave itself permission to collect location data during a theft recovery or while deploying emergency services to the vehicle — both services offered by OnStar. But the update now allows OnStar to collect and sell personal, yet anonymous, information to third parties regarding the vehicle using the OnStar service, including location, seat belt usage, speed, as well as other particulars.
What’s more OnStar’s latest terms and conditions state that it continues to collect said data even after the subscriber cancels their service, since the two-way data connection between the vehicle and OnStar is still in place. If one wishes to opt out of the data collection procedures all together, one would have to specifically request to deactivate the data connection by pressing the blue OnStar button or calling 1 888 4 ONSTAR and speaking to a representative.
That process could take up to sixty days, the terms state. During the time that the service is still active within those sixty days, data may still continue to be collected from the vehicle.
Feel free to grab the updated 26-page Terms of Service document (PDF) in its entirety here.
Update: to the timely upheaval of OnStar subscribers and web junkies all over the nation, OnStar has released a statement about its newest set of terms and conditions:
This example is a former NCRS award winner.
Many automakers oppose right-to-repair laws citing cybersecurity concerns.
Breaking out the spec sheets for a comparison.
Plus, a nationwide lease on all-electric off-road Pickup and SUV.
Extra comfort for rear-seated passengers.
Filings made in 24 countries, so far.
View Comments
Another PR mess, and fuel for the critics. Truethfully not crazy about the new contract, but also don't see how this is any different than people posting there entire lives and detailed pictures on facebook.
The key word here is the users info is annonymous, there is no direct info linked back to the user. That's what I read, what's the big deal...
If you unplug the onstar it won't send data
Lol and you also will have no warranty, since you will have voided it (or parts of it).
How do you figure the warranty will be voided? I sell gm and have not heard that bs. I personally find this a bad call by OnStar and will personally inform customers of the lack of privacy now that OnStar has changed policy. Must be part of the obama administration at work seeing the government is still involved with GM. Frickin socialist!
I'm not sure that it will be voided, but I know from previous experience that yanking something related to powertrain or electrical system voids the warranty.
That said, why do you find this a bad move by OnStar when the data is collected anonymously? I have an OnStar-equipped vehicle and frankly don't care if the greater humanity benefits from my patterns of automotive travel (by figuring out average trip length, MPG, number of right vs. left turns, etc.) -- as long as my name ain't on the data.
On top of that, how is socialism even relevant here?
Your generation doesnt seem to mind loosing it freedoms, but I do like my privacy and the less government intervention there is the better. To answer the comment you are going to make, government is involved with GM, until GM totally pays off ALL the loans and gains control back via ownership of stock from the government and the union, obama and his socialist party will have control of GM. Socialism issue, If you cant see it, then never mind. Were to do get "yanking a system"? With onstar built in the vehicle I dont think you can remove the hardware. But you can pull the "fuse" or have it disabled. I bet a tech can disable it with a tech 2.
I am amazed at the number of customers I have that DO NOT WANT OnStar. Yet I must go through the call with them or the dealer is penalized. Chrysler doesnt do that.. My wife just leased a new 200. Yes I sell GM trucks, our dealership doesnt have a car franchise, so I went with a car line at one of our other stores. Besides I am a Pontiac lover and member of several Pontiac clubs, Chevy is utilitarian and plain, Buick is too expensive and I find the styling is dull.
I cancelled the service and almost had a heart attack when the darn thing starting talking to me about activating the service. That was a pure invasion of my privacy. In essence the product is not a bad idea and if I were a bit older, I think I would use a portion of it, but this type of behavior and the constant e-mails and mail is irritating.