GoKawiilGM to pay $220 million settling 36-state probe into sale of driver data
General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims from a coalition of 36 state attorneys general that it illegally sold driving and location data to brokers. The data, gathered through GM's now-discontinued Smart Driver program, allegedly reached insurers who used it to raise some customers' premiums, and states say drivers weren't properly informed they were enrolled. GM must now limit data collection and get explicit consent from drivers going forward.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The size of this settlement, following a smaller $12.75 million California deal earlier this year, signals growing state-level scrutiny of automakers' data practices as cars become data-generating devices on wheels. It could pressure other carmakers with similar telematics programs to reassess consent and data-sharing practices before facing legal action.
- GM will pay $220 million to settle a 36-state investigation into data sales.
- The Smart Driver program allegedly shared driving habit data with insurers without proper consent.
- GM must now obtain express consent and limit data collection under the settlement terms.
GPS privacy OBD-II port blocker — If you're uneasy about automakers quietly collecting and selling your driving data, a simple OBD-II port lock lets you control physical access to your car's diagnostic data port. It's a straightforward way to add a layer of privacy protection against unauthorized data harvesting devices. Given the GM settlement, many drivers are rightly rethinking how much access carmakers and third parties have to their vehicle's data stream.
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Published there as: “GM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data”
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