The Federal Trade Commission (F.T.C.) has reached a settlement with General Motors, banning the automaker from sharing drivers’ behavior and geolocation data with consumer reporting agencies for five years. The F.T.C. found that G.M. collected data from millions of vehicles without properly informing consumers and obtaining their consent.
G.M. had been collecting data on drivers’ driving habits, including speed and nighttime driving, and selling it to insurance companies. Some drivers saw an increase in their auto insurance rates as a result. The F.T.C. alleged that G.M.’s enrollment process for OnStar Connected Services was confusing, leading many consumers to unknowingly sign up.
As part of the settlement, G.M. must make changes to its data collection and sharing practices. The company will now provide drivers with clearer information about what data is being collected and give them more control over their personal information. G.M. also agreed to improve its system for turning off location tracking on vehicles.
The five-year ban prohibits G.M. from sharing individual driver data, but it can still share anonymous data with third parties, such as road safety researchers. The F.T.C.’s chair, Lina M. Khan, will step down next week after the Trump administration takes over.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/technology/general-motors-driving-data-settlement.html