Is Your Car Watching You?

If all that is true my insurance would be $20k/mo. Lol!

 

“I’ve never experienced <problem> therefore it doesn’t, cannot and will not exist!”

Insurance companies are absolutely vacuuming up what data they can whether for future use or current use. They’re large entities and it could be they just don’t care currently about you, people in your area, or who knows what their inner workings are. (and of course it may vary insurance company to insurance company, some might not be buying, others may, etc. It’s a simple extension of their current “Safe Driver” tracking programs.

It’s not just a current issue, it’s a future issue.

If you can’t be bothered to care about the insurance implications, what about the cases of Toyota including the fact they received data from the vehicle being driven 85+ MPH as a reason for denying warranty coverage? It might not be a blanket policy now, but nothing to stop that in the future.

Law enforcement may not have gotten personal information of everyone who’s driven by a certain location (that we know of), but they’ve certainly subpoena’d cell phone records and sparked a debate that way. I’m sure this will be on their radar as this technology becomes more prevalent.

If companies want more money/data from you, make them work for it!

Edit: and if they do choose to use that data against you, it probably won’t be obvious. I recommend you call and kill that connection at your soonest convenience but I really can’t force you.

Edit 2: We can’t know your specific situation, it’s entirely possible it’s already priced into your current rate, etc. There’s so many factors but I rather not give companies more means to mess with me without any benefit on my end.

 

well they must like my fast driving and on ramp acceleration because in Feb I got a discount because of our “safe” driving and no accidents.

to each their own. If you or anyone feel so strongly about data release or re-use then by all means do what tou need to do. But for me, id rather spend my time doing something more constructive…

85+ mph you say? Guess those texans have to worry because soem of their hwy speed limits are 85. Got forbid they hit 86. Lol!

 

I don't know what all the fuss is about, I willing sharing all my data with the government. I even have a GPS tracker shoved up my ass. Hey, don't judge!


At a press conference on August 12th, 1986, US President Ronald Reagan said, “The eight most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

 

oh god youre from texas!! Dont drive over 85 on 130!

 

Again, I can't tell you what specifics apply/don't apply or why since I'm not magic but just because it hasn't affected you in a way you can detect doesn't mean that's how it's going to be now-and-forever.

Maybe future company policy won't be as something as blatant as the magic threshold of 85 MPH in the future (I hope), but precedent has been established that Toyota tracks events that car transmits to them OTA and stores it for later use against the owner.

It'll be even worse trying to fight back against a defective engine under warranty if corporate emails back saying: "Records show you accelerated onto the highway at 85% throttle or higher four times during the designated break-in period two years ago so we cannot provide any assistance in this matter."

 

Do you work for the FAA??

 

No. But I need you to look into this light for a moment..

 

LOL!! At this point in life I just might welcome that flashy thing...

I do have a request though: I would rather have Agent K do the flashy thing? Because Agent J is an arrogant ass!

 

I just need Tommy Lee Jones to monologue in front of me and I'm good.

 

I work in contract litigation, and unless Toyota corporate put that in writing at the time you purchased the car and you agreed to that condition, it’s unenforceable. They have to service your car if still under warranry no matter what.

 

Fine print defeated privacy a while ago, so there’s already volumes of accessible, commoditized data trails assigned to each of us, and that’s even before AI fully gets ahold of it. On some levels, it’s easy to imagine virtually every cheesy ‘70’s sci-fi movie coming to life.

I think relative to this discussion, the latest frontier is our personal vehicles, which used to be taken for granted as a basic extension of our personal private space. Once automakers finally surrendered our dashboards to tech companies, it became yet another extension for our data to be sold. Cars can already intervene in ways that enhance safety, so maybe not all bad, but it will be very interesting to see where it goes in the next decade.

 

Oh Christ, I knew there was something seriously wrong with you. You're a LAWYER!

 

After the pager and walkie-talkie news recently we can't rule out phones or computers hurting us.

 

It's so sad how willing people are to let government and companies to collect data and violate our privacy. It's one thing to not like it and accept the reality, it's another to not care at all.

 

If they want your info they’ll get it one way or another and you wont even know it.

 

Probably, but the point is i don't have to be okay with it or encourage it like some others. I can even fight against it rather than just give up.

Hopefully you understand fighting for one's beliefs/rights as a lawyer.

 

i do understand your point.

10-4, always try to fight the good fight, but sometimes it comes to a point where you can only do so much and have to move on as it will be a losing battle in the end.

I see so many people waste $ defending a losing case just because they feel/believe things should be a certain way in a contract after they sign it.

 

Nissan was voiding warranties for Nissan GTR after owners used launch control , claiming misuse. Nissan used Vehicle Status Data Recorder to do so. The only people that won were lawyers.

What you say is technically correct, but you omit the part where end-user has to pay lawyers to litigate this. AFAIK most jurisdictions courts would not award costs even if you win.

 

i didnt omit that part as most attorneys dont work for free in a litigation matters. Its understood that the parties are paying a retainer upfront for their services and once the retainer is used up, they have to replenish that retainer or go on hourly charges. Most civil matters aren’t handled on a contingency fee. Nothing is free for either party…

 

Yes, so when you say it is unenforceable, it does not mean that they will honor warranty. It means that if they do deny you warranty this way you are able to sue for damages.

 

that is correct. However its amazing how quickly defendants honor warranties or service once theyre on the receiving end of a law suit.