Global articles on espionage, spying, bugs, and other interesting topics.

Is OnStar Spying On You?

Ah yes, the fine print. Tricky territory, especially if you’re the owner of a relatively new General Motors vehicle equipped with OnStar. If so, you might want to get out your magnifying glass and have a gander at OnStar’s new terms and conditions policy. It seems they’ve modified the boundaries under which they can legally gather GPS data from your car.

The original terms and conditions specified that OnStar could collect your vehicle’s GPS data only if it was reported stolen or if you were involved in a car accident.

Now OnStar says they have the right to “share or sell anonymized data (including location, speed, and safety belt usage) with third parties for any purpose, which may prove useful for such things as research relating to public safety or traffic services.”

Research, huh? I’m willing to bet there are a few law enforcement agencies and insurance companies who would love to get their hands on that information and do a little “research.” And “anonymized data?” When it come to GPS tracking devices, is there really such a thing as anonymous data?

According to OnStar, there is. The company maintains they are not pimping out its customers’ GPS information.

“Our guiding practices regarding sharing our subscribers’ personal information have not changed. We are always very specific about with whom we share customers’ personal information, and how they will use it. We have never sold any personally identifiable information to any third party,” Joanne Finnorn, vice president of subscriber services, said in a statement.

Perhaps most alarming is OnStar’s stance on still collecting your data after you have discontinued their service.

“Under our new Terms and Conditions, when a customer cancels service, we have informed customers that OnStar will maintain a two-way connection to their vehicle unless they ask us not to do so.”

Talk about not being able to take a hint. What part of “canceled service” is so hard to understand?

OnStar’s new privacy statement available here. Make sure you have your magnifying glass and highlighter on hand.

[Via AutoBlog]