OnStar's Privacy Dust-Up: It's Over, and Did not Affect OnStar FMV

My latest Technologizer column promptly.com�is about OnStar FMV, the very first version from the vehicle safety-and-information service available being an aftermarket add-set for most cars, cleverly included in a rear-view mirror. After I shared the storyline on Twitter, Facebook and Google+, I been told by some people who stated FMV seemed neat. But a couple of stated these were disgruntled with OnStar over privacy issues, and for that reason were not interested.

The things they were mentioning to would be a kerfuffle that popped up late recently. GM introduced it had been making changes to OnStar's privacy guidelines that will let it continue using the Gps navigation integrated into OnStar hardware to trace a vehicle even when its owner had canceled OnStar service. The organization stated it reserved the authority to capture information like a car's speed and placement, and then sell on that information, aggregated and anonymized.

(MORE:�Creepy: OnStar Will Track You Whether You are Activated or�Not)

People were not pleased with this new wrinkle. A lot to ensure that GM rapidly corrected course and made the decision to not give itself the authority to track OnStar-outfitted automobiles after service have been canceled. (It does track cars which have OnStar enabled: Actually, this is the whole idea from the service, which uses these details for driving directions and also to send help just in case of problems.)

A GM representative explained, incidentally, the new online privacy policy never put on OnStar FMV to begin with.

Main point here: If you are intrigued by OnStar FMV but alarmed by the thought of GM monitoring you once you drop the service, you don't have to fret. Unless of course you are a privacy absolutist and also eliminate all chance of GM or other people spying in your location. But when you're, you wouldn't want Gps navigation inside your vehicle, period. Actually, you won't want to have a Gps navigation-enabled anything.

I question the number of people won't have a modern smartphone on such privacy grounds

MORE:�Magic Mirror: GM Brings OnStar to Non-GM Cars

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