Wired ran a great article explaining the newest attack on our privacy:
Navigation-and-emergency-services company OnStar is notifying its six million account holders that it will keep a complete accounting of the speed and location of OnStar-equipped vehicles, even for drivers who discontinue monthly service.
OnStar began e-mailing customers Monday about its update to the privacy policy, which grants OnStar the right to sell that GPS-derived data in an anonymized format.
Adam Denison, a spokesman for the General Motors subsidiary, said OnStar does not currently sell customer data, but it reserves that right. He said both the new and old privacy policies allow OnStar to chronicle a vehicle’s every movement and its speed, though it’s not clear where that’s stated in the old policy.
It’s obnoxious enough that customers may have to agree to the terms to accept the service, but once you leave the company you are no longer subject to the terms and conditions of service. Or at least that’s how it ought to be. This is a disgusting attack on our right to reasonable privacy, and is highly abusable. Until they repeal the Patriot Act, the more data that is gathered, the more we are at risk for being snooped or otherwise monitored without a warrant.
It’s easy to forget the previous battles, so let’s do a fast recap. Cell phones are holding inappropriate information about users (no encryption, mind you). We can be snooped without a warrant, and now we our property can be searched without notifying the citizen, a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment. Now our cars can be tracked, even if we stop using the service (their feeble “it makes it easier to reconnect” excuse is worse than silence or “suck it up and move along, Citizen!”). Without oversight, these abuses of power will not stop. Without full disclosure to citizens, they cannot challenge the process in court. Check and mate.
