Camaro Black Box Privacy Threat
#1
07-02-2009, 06:54 PM
Camaro Black Box Privacy Threat
Old news, but you should be aware, and it's obviously on steroids for the 5th Gen.:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12...rivacy_threat/
Car black box privacy threat
Don't upset your motor - it might see you in court
By Andrew Thomas
Posted in Business, 12th December 2000 11:42 GMT
Car giant General Motors is facing a lawsuit claiming that it has violated privacy laws by installing black box recorders in its vehicles to record information about speed, braking and seat belt use in the moments leading up to a crash, reports Bloomberg.
The suit claims that the world's largest car company failed to tell motorists about the existence of the recorders, saying the devices are aimed solely at helping to design safer cars and to help investigators in accident reconstruction. GM is alleged to have failed to inform motorists about the existence of the devices or what they do, amounting to an invasion of privacy.
Eight 1999 US models are listed in the complaint: the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro; the Pontiac Firebird; the Cadillac DeVille, El Dorado, and Seville; and the Buick Century and Park Avenue.
The modules in the Cadillac DeVille also record speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.
"We think that our collection and use of the data is legal and appropriate," said a GM spokesperson. "When accidents occur, the device is providing a level of precision that you may not have otherwise in a crash situation."
"Our policy is that we have to get the vehicle owner's permission," they added. "If the owner requests it, they can get a copy of downloaded data."
"In most instances, the recording has been taking place without the owners ever knowing about it," said a lawyer for the plaintiff, one Sherry Valan. "It raises very troubling questions about informed consent."
The lawsuit also alleges that GM also has used the data against at least one car owner to defend a product liability suit.
-----
A little more background:
4th Gens have it, at least 1999 onward, but there were versions going back to 1990 too, so maybe a few 3rd Gens even:
http://hosted.law.wisc.edu/lawreview...-1/mueller.pdf
and
http://www.triodyne.com/SAFETY~1/SB_V16N5.PDF
“Event data recorder” is the generally adopted term and will be used in this Comment. Other terms used by the industry include: “Diagnostic and Energy Reserve Modules,” or “DERMs” (EDRs manufactured from 1990-1993 by General Motors); “Sensing and Diagnostic Modules,” or “SDMs” (EDRs manufactured from 1994-1999 by General Motors); and “Crash Data Recorders,” or “CDRs.” See John M. Goebelbecker, Crash Data Retrieval Kit Recovers Reconstruction Data from GM Black Boxes, TRIODYNE SAFETY BRIEF, Aug. 2000, at 1, 1-2,
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12...rivacy_threat/
Car black box privacy threat
Don't upset your motor - it might see you in court
By Andrew Thomas
Posted in Business, 12th December 2000 11:42 GMT
Car giant General Motors is facing a lawsuit claiming that it has violated privacy laws by installing black box recorders in its vehicles to record information about speed, braking and seat belt use in the moments leading up to a crash, reports Bloomberg.
The suit claims that the world's largest car company failed to tell motorists about the existence of the recorders, saying the devices are aimed solely at helping to design safer cars and to help investigators in accident reconstruction. GM is alleged to have failed to inform motorists about the existence of the devices or what they do, amounting to an invasion of privacy.
Eight 1999 US models are listed in the complaint: the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro; the Pontiac Firebird; the Cadillac DeVille, El Dorado, and Seville; and the Buick Century and Park Avenue.
The modules in the Cadillac DeVille also record speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.
"We think that our collection and use of the data is legal and appropriate," said a GM spokesperson. "When accidents occur, the device is providing a level of precision that you may not have otherwise in a crash situation."
"Our policy is that we have to get the vehicle owner's permission," they added. "If the owner requests it, they can get a copy of downloaded data."
"In most instances, the recording has been taking place without the owners ever knowing about it," said a lawyer for the plaintiff, one Sherry Valan. "It raises very troubling questions about informed consent."
The lawsuit also alleges that GM also has used the data against at least one car owner to defend a product liability suit.
-----
A little more background:
4th Gens have it, at least 1999 onward, but there were versions going back to 1990 too, so maybe a few 3rd Gens even:
http://hosted.law.wisc.edu/lawreview...-1/mueller.pdf
and
http://www.triodyne.com/SAFETY~1/SB_V16N5.PDF
“Event data recorder” is the generally adopted term and will be used in this Comment. Other terms used by the industry include: “Diagnostic and Energy Reserve Modules,” or “DERMs” (EDRs manufactured from 1990-1993 by General Motors); “Sensing and Diagnostic Modules,” or “SDMs” (EDRs manufactured from 1994-1999 by General Motors); and “Crash Data Recorders,” or “CDRs.” See John M. Goebelbecker, Crash Data Retrieval Kit Recovers Reconstruction Data from GM Black Boxes, TRIODYNE SAFETY BRIEF, Aug. 2000, at 1, 1-2,
Last edited by libertyforall1776; 04-22-2012 at 02:05 AM. Reason: added breadth
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