GoKawiilGM pays $220M to settle 36-state probe into driver data sales
General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims from attorneys general in 36 states that it sold drivers' location and driving-behavior data to brokers without proper consent. The settlement requires GM to obtain explicit consent before collecting or sharing such data and to undergo third-party audits of its privacy compliance. The case centers on GM's now-discontinued Smart Driver program, which tracked driving habits and fed data to brokers like LexisNexis and Verisk, who then sold it to insurers.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The settlement adds to mounting regulatory pressure on automakers over connected-car data practices, following a similar FTC order in January and an earlier California agreement. It suggests state regulators are increasingly willing to pursue coordinated multistate action against data brokering practices that can affect consumers' insurance rates without their knowledge.
- GM will pay $220 million across 36 states over unauthorized data sales.
- The automaker must now get explicit consumer consent before collecting or sharing driving data.
- The case follows a 2023 New York Times report exposing GM's Smart Driver data-sharing with insurers.
OBD-II Privacy Blocker Lock — If you're concerned about automakers or data brokers accessing your vehicle's diagnostic and location data, an OBD-II port lock physically prevents unauthorized devices from tapping into your car's data stream. It's a simple, affordable way to take back some control over your vehicle's data privacy, especially relevant given stories like GM's data-selling settlement.”,
See OBD-II Privacy Blocker Lock on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Kirsten Korosec, 2026-10-29
Published there as: “GM reaches $220M settlement over selling drivers’ private data”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.