On-Star: Knows where you've been.

[Moonliner]

And it tells all it knows.

Originally Posted by CNN

A separate warrant executed November 1 and also obtained by the newspaper indicates authorities sought "all GPS records, cellular service records, logging records or any other electronic records in the possession of OnStar Inc." relating to a 2005 GMC Yukon Denali driven by Peterson

I wonder what the criteria is for warrants of this nature: murder, rape, abduction, assault, failure to appear, domestic issues, traffic warrants?

I think I'll just remove any vehicle with On-Star from my list of potential new rides.

[katiesue]

On the other hand - should Mrs. Moonie go missing and you'd had nothing to do with it could not the records be used in your defense?

[Kevy Baby]

Since I do not do anything that would warrant knowing where the heck I've been, I would have no issue with having an On-Star equipped vehicle.

I WOULD have an issue with governmentally mandated On-Starring of vehicles.

Although I am certain that the above sentence will be attacked.

[Moonliner]

Do you have curtains on your home windows?
When you go to the bathroom do you close the door?

The desire for privacy does not imply misdeeds.

As an individual your right to privacy is your ability to shut out society. The goverment and Ford Motor company should not be able to database your every move.

The problem I have with systems like On-Star is that there are currently no consumer protection laws on this type of data as there are for credit card transactions.

For example, what would stop On-Star from letting K-Mart know that Mr. Baby just started visting the little-tykes day care center every morning?

I would hardly call On-Stars privacy statment consumer friendly.

Originally Posted by On-Star

OnStar may share your email address, including any email address collected through the OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics Program, with the maker of your car and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

OnStar may also share your other contact information, information about your current OnStar services, your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and information about the use of your car's features with: (i) the maker of your car (and its subsidiaries and affiliates); (ii) car dealers; (iii) your satellite radio providers; and (iv) our wireless service providers, for the purposes of offering you products and services.

Your OnStar subscription status may be shared with companies with whom we have business relationships to determine eligibility in discount programs you have requested from those companies. Your information may also be shared with our suppliers for the exclusive purpose of providing services for us. OnStar will not share any information with other third parties for their independent use without your permission.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Since I do not do anything that would warrant knowing where the heck I've been, I would have no issue with having an On-Star equipped vehicle.

I WOULD have an issue with governmentally mandated On-Starring of vehicles.

Although I am certain that the above sentence will be attacked.

I support the above sentences.

But On-Star is a bit creepy (I was hesitant to enable GPS on my cell phone, once upon a time), and I wouldn't pay for such a service.

[katiesue]

But you do not have to purchase a vehicle that has onstar. And even if you do, you are not forced to activate it and pay for their services. If you're stupid enougth to have onstar search for a perfect place to dump a body, well then you're not that bright in the first place.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

There's a similar issue with cell phones, many ship with gps. With sprint you can track your kid's phones for $9.99 a month.

[Betty]

How about the marketing company that tracks your moves online that now matches the data with on-star - that matches that data with what you bought at the grocery store...

Doesn't it bother you that data mining companies know more about you then they need to?

I always thought big brother woudl be the government. Now it's going to be them and the data mining companies that sell all that info they collect about me.

[katiesue]

Maddy's phone with verizon also has the gps capability. It's not activated but it is there.

Data mining doesn't bother me at all. If my gps could tell the supermarket that I'm almost there and my fridge could tell the gps to tell the market I'm out of eggs and they would be waiting for me at checkstand 3 I'd be all over it.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by katiesue

Maddy's phone with verizon also has the gps capability. It's not activated but it is there.

I'm afraid you are wrong on that account. A cell phone can be used to track and even eavesdrop on you even when it is turned off.