OnStar plans to track users even after disconnecting service

September 21, 2011 By Mike Flacy

Taking baby steps toward developing that creepy computer in the ridiculous Shia Labeouf action flop known as Eagle Eye, a new change in privacy means OnStar is always watching you.

Coming this December, OnStar is opting all users into a change of the privacy policy and plans to track users that aren’t subscribed to the service. Anyone that purchases a new vehicle with built-in OnStar hardware, but doesn’t activate the software will be tracked within the company. In addition, anyone that disconnects the service without calling OnStar will continue to be tracked. While OnStar collects less important information like mileage and fluid levels, it also collects information around the status of a vehicle during an accident. For instance, OnStar records the speed, location and direction of drivers via GPS during an accident as well as if the driver and other passengers were wearing a seat belt.

OnStar plans on supplying this information to police officers, when requested, as well as insurance companies who are seeking facts about any accident involving an OnStar vehicle. Previously, this information was only available to officials when the OnStar service was activated by the driver. While OnStar’s soft disconnect keeps the service active to track the user, previous and current OnStar subscribers can opt out of this new privacy change by calling (877) 616-0577 and requesting a hard disconnect from a customer service representative of OnStar. However, this takes up to ten days for the account to cancel and an additional two weeks for the connection to shut off. Users may also consider removing the fuse from the OnStar hardware for a faster solution.

This modification in the privacy policy also shifts OnStar’s position on selling data collected from the subscriber base to third-party marketers and other agencies. While personal details are stripped out and third parties are seeing a collection of anonymous statistics, this shift in policy is a complete reversal of OnStar’s 2010 policy that made sure they had explicit consent from users before sharing data with third parties.

Showing 8 comments

OnStar at 3:20pm 22nd September 2011 Hi, I'm with the OnStar team. We're seeing similar concerns from other channels, and I wanted to let everyone know that we value our customers’ privacy and security and have never sold any personally identifiable information to any third party.To be clear and transparent regarding our business practices we have put together the video below.http://bit.ly/onstarTandC
1. Ian Bell at 4:40pm 22nd September 2011 I don't think we care so much as to you selling our data. Why are you tracking us when we are not using your service? Why is there a need to do that?
jesterking at 8:56am 22nd September 2011 Funny... That's Why I cut my onstar antenna... What gives them the right to track me, even after I disconnected my service? Nothing does. People who like privacy, should cut their onstar antennas. We're not criminals. Why are we being treated like them?
Anders D Junger at 10:57am 22nd September 2011 Another reason not to buy a GM.
Mark Baland at 6:09am 22nd September 2011 HAL-9000: "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Dave..."
Michael Hookano at 5:00am 22nd September 2011 lol Eagle Eye. watch out or we're gonna end up like the matrix...
Robert Watkins at 4:24am 22nd September 2011 don't they have a couple SUPERCOMPUTERS that can do 26 trillion commands per second ?
Tyler Roden at 4:22am 22nd September 2011 Always thought OnStar was a nice service until this. Seems they haven't been paying attention to the privacy concerns. Info like this is why I follow DT.