One of the big selling points of onstar is the accident reporting. I would expect that to trigger something on their system and then it would report back. In the incident you referenced, the car called onstar because it thought there had been an accident. It got logged because of that.

Also, you may not have your ECM or black box if it goes to the city impound.

 

Why is the guy doing donuts in a fotball field? what the football his property? or he is going around destroying someone else's property? If you aren't doing anything illegal. Then you shouldn't worry. If you are doing donuts in a parking lot... and not hurting anyone... that's fine... plus no one can really prove that it was YOU driving the car unless they have cameras within the car... which i don't think they do YET.

I embrace technology as long as it doesn't interfere with my life. If it makes it easier/safer it's welcome. OnStar is welcome.. as it doesn't do anything that I don't like.

The day OnStar has a camera on my face and logs everything i do then I will have a problem. But then again they are messing with privacy.. so I don't think they will.

 

That sort of complacency is exactly what leads to:

And for what it's worth, the potential is already there for at least half of that. And it's already messing with your privacy. He never hit the OnStar button. OnStar took it upon themselves to report the activity.

 

True, which is why you better be thinking fast if they are holding data that might be used against you.

People do illegal things all the time. How would you like it if you were going 75mph on the highway and had to panic stop / swerve because of something random. Onstar reports you were in an accident, traveling 75mph. Police see report, speed limit is 55, they write you a ticket.

Oh yeah, lets not forget that the most modern NAV systems are programmed with things like speed liomits on roads to help you optimize travel times. Hmm, how hard then would it be to program onstar and nav to talk to each other and have onstar rat you out everytime you speed? How about have onstar automatically kill the ignition if you go > 15mph over the limit?

Far fetched. Welcome to rumors of OBDIII circa early 90s.

Bingo. The above scenario is rapidly unfolding and complacency about "i have nothing to hide" is allowing it to happen. Only when it is too late, and even those who "have nothing to hide" find out that they are not saints will they care.

As for my warranty scenario, i can easily imagine GM adding "free remote diagnostics subscription"with new GM cars, selling it as a feature. In the fine print will be some text along the lines of "remote diagnostics service is provided as a part of the comprehensive 100k powertrain warranty. Failure to follow maintenace and repair schedules as outlined by this service will be cause for voiding the warranty"

 

Personally not having Onstar would be a deal breaker for me. I love the service and plan to have it on any future vehicle purchases. If I get busted by onstar doing something stupid in my car then I will probably change my tune but I don't think its in GM's best interests to rat out their customers on a regular basis. I could care less about XM though. Thought I would like it but I don't.

 

And Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny will come to your home and arrest you.

 

I love OnStar, but I've stated that in the past.

As far as OnStar arbitrarily reporting you to the police for a false accident.... from everything I've read and been told about the automatic accident feature of OnStar... they dial you up through your car to confirm an accident has taken place first. If you dont respond, they would obviosuly report it, thinking you were unable to respond.

Also, and I could be wrong on this one, but I was also under the impression that OnStar is only notified when there is airbag deployment only.......................

 

Of course. That's why more and more laws are passed where every citizen is guilty of breaking some law somewhere.

And honestly, that is the lamest line ever, and I attribute this to nothing else other than ignorance and mental laziness. I'm sorry to be so blunt but it's true.

Once the technology interferes with your life, it is too late. That's why you stop it before the technology gets there. Also, at what cost do you wish to obtain "safety"? History shows that nefarious laws were passed in the name of benefit and safety for many.

They already are messing with privacy when they're capable to turn on the microphone and listen in on your conversation, without your knowledge. Your location can be tracked, conversation recorded. For example, the Missouri police were instructed to treat persons with Ron Paul bumper stickers as potentially dangerous with terrorist inclinations. If you can imagine the state using OnStar to catch terrorists and if one of the key words is Ron Paul, or liberty, or constitution, you best not exercise free speech in your car. Will this happen? Likely not, but why leave that capability there?

I welcome the technology for those who want it. I also welcome choice. OnStar is forced. And it has the potential to be abused and trample on my right to privacy.

edit: I don't condone irresponsible behaviour under the guise of privacy. if you're driving recklessly and cause an accident and something from OnStar that could be used to establish the facts, then by all means, use it. if it used to establish your location at or near a crime scene (such as assault, murder, what not), it's definitely useful. these are all legitimate uses, but there is potential for abuse, and I for one do not trust corporations with my private data, or the government to use its powers responsibly.

 

That's what I thought as well, but apparently it doesn't need to deploy...

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/plans/acr.jsp

 

Interesting FAQ on how OnStar uses Vehicle Slowdown. It appears that their lawyers are just as cautious as we'd expect...

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp...s/sva_faqs.jsp

The bottom-line is if a cop calls them up because you are speeding trying to get them to activate vehicle slowdown, they'd have to get approval from the laywers before they do so. Remember, their contract is with you the consumer, not law enforcement.

It appears you can also have them deactivate vehicle slowdown if you don't want the service.

 

What about what is happening with GTR warranties? Would it be THAT hard for GM to implement something like this if they knew it could save them 1billion a year in warranty services?

 

This sounds like internet fluff. Onstar only reports an accident if the airbags are deployed. If the airbag sensor goes off a signal is sent to Onstar.

 

I guess you never heard any stories about guys at auto cross events having the onstar operator ding on in the middle of their run asking if they were OK?

Or you could have just read the link someone else posted above about automatic crash response.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/onstar-police,news-832.html

Ok so i messed up some details and it turns out the kid did talk to them and no doubt tell them that everything was OK, but the police still somehow knew to check the onstar database, -OR- onstar took it upon themselves to contact police to check out the story. Either way, this is not internet fluff, this is real coordination between law enforcement and onstar that will only increase going into the future.

Also, there's stuff like this being developed - http://newsroom.progressive.com/2004...tripsense.aspx

How much longer until insurance companies want to tie into your onstar too? But they'll give you a nice discount (which they will promptly make back by raising your rates because you incessantly endagner the public going 5-10 over)

I don't wear tin foil hats, but my eyes aren't closed either. In fact, i remember when i first heard the OBDIII rumors and thought how insane it would be and how no one would ever go for such things. Next thing you know, onstar is already doing all of the most feared things from those rumors (collaboration with police on speeding and accident reporting, able to shut down your vehicle remotely upon law enforcement request, reporting your emmisions status to a central location)

 

You're glossing over the fact that OnStar implies on their own website that they won't give out such information to law enforcement unless certain conditions are met. Meaning; unless they notify you (the policy holder) and their lawyers say its OK.

While the technology is there for them to abuse their power, don't forget, you the consumer are paying for a service. If you are unhappy with said service, what are you going to do? Cancel it, right? OnStar is in the business to add subscribers and make money. They are not going to alienate their customer base and create a customer relations nightmare just to appease folks like law enforcement and insurance carriers. Those aren't their paying customers, you and I are!

 

They won't need onstar for any of this. They have an ECM in the car. You guys should probably read the contract you get with onstar. Also, I don't think onstar is going to keep active cars that don't have contracts. It would probably cost them too much and have them open to lawsuits for ignoring car crashes.