Does OnStar eavesdrop
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 12,243
Likes: 97
From: Center of the Universe, Alabama
I can tell u what happens when u crash a zo6....my buddy got his z a week before I got mine and we went to the strip for some times on the stock rubber. On about the 4th pass it got loose in 3rd gear around 100mph and hooked hard right from the left lane. By the time he sorted it out. It went into the right lanes guardrail. No airbags deployed and he droveitback into the pits, but not before ONSTAR activated the hazards (I could not turn them off) and a lady asked him over the speakers "Are u ok? Do u require assistance?" He answered "no, I'm fine, it's all good." She asks if he wanted emergency services and he replied "Oh no, I'm fine...but thanks anyway"
Well, he gets back out on the track in the new mustang and I stay to survey the damage. And here they come....the state police, the fire and rescue, fire truck, AND ambulance. They had gps coordinates because they pulled right up to the car at a crowded track. The state trooper asked me if I was the driver ...."uhh, no sir"..."where is the Driver?" I answer: " he's on the track in another car". Trooper looks at me as if I'm from outer space......then he goes to his unit to fill out an incident report. I can't believe this, ONSTAR asked where he was and he even replied he was at a track.
Edit: I have crashed at the track and seen dozens of wrecks at tracks, NEVER seen cops write a report on it.....
Well, he gets back out on the track in the new mustang and I stay to survey the damage. And here they come....the state police, the fire and rescue, fire truck, AND ambulance. They had gps coordinates because they pulled right up to the car at a crowded track. The state trooper asked me if I was the driver ...."uhh, no sir"..."where is the Driver?" I answer: " he's on the track in another car". Trooper looks at me as if I'm from outer space......then he goes to his unit to fill out an incident report. I can't believe this, ONSTAR asked where he was and he even replied he was at a track.
Edit: I have crashed at the track and seen dozens of wrecks at tracks, NEVER seen cops write a report on it.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,354
Likes: 601
If your not doing anything wrong, not doing any criminal activity why worry about it.
There is no privacy in this world, especially everytime you sign into the computer, access the internet. Your IP address becomes a record, and the IP I am sure has a history of all searches or websites visited.
Keys words can attract attention as we have already seen with federal agencies tracking down suspected terrorists and many others with criminal minds especially those who use social media websites that are well known by all.
There is no privacy in this world, especially everytime you sign into the computer, access the internet. Your IP address becomes a record, and the IP I am sure has a history of all searches or websites visited.
Keys words can attract attention as we have already seen with federal agencies tracking down suspected terrorists and many others with criminal minds especially those who use social media websites that are well known by all.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte NC
You know how sometimes it's creepy when you search for something on amazon at home, then the next day at work you start seeing ads for it on other sites? I wouldn't be surprised if one day you are talking about something while driving, then you start getting spam emails or ads when you search on google about it.
I would be highly surprised if onstar was doing it nowadays, but I would be even more surprised if they hadn't thought about doing it...
I would be highly surprised if onstar was doing it nowadays, but I would be even more surprised if they hadn't thought about doing it...
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
It has been done, I don't know what the outcome of the lawsuit was, but several years ago it came out that the NSA or DEA (can't remember which) was using OnStar to tap into a suspect's car conversations.
Like I said, there was a lawsuit, but I don't know what the outcome was. All I know is that it doesn't matter if you pay for the service or not, they "can" listen in. whether they do anymore (legally or illegally) I have no idea.
If I had to guess, then I'd say they do. If they suspect you of being a terrorist or a drug dealer, and you own a vehicle with Onstar, sooner or later, they'll use it. legally or not. They have used it to track bank robbers, and the FBI has used it to track criminals crossing state lines, etc. So it's not really a new thing. Even if you aren't paying for it they can track your speeds, where you go, etc. and they reserve the right to sell the data to 3rd party marketing companies in an anonymous format.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011...-cancellation/
Like I said, there was a lawsuit, but I don't know what the outcome was. All I know is that it doesn't matter if you pay for the service or not, they "can" listen in. whether they do anymore (legally or illegally) I have no idea.
If I had to guess, then I'd say they do. If they suspect you of being a terrorist or a drug dealer, and you own a vehicle with Onstar, sooner or later, they'll use it. legally or not. They have used it to track bank robbers, and the FBI has used it to track criminals crossing state lines, etc. So it's not really a new thing. Even if you aren't paying for it they can track your speeds, where you go, etc. and they reserve the right to sell the data to 3rd party marketing companies in an anonymous format.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011...-cancellation/
If the light is not green, they can't track your car. Hence all the complaints on their Facebook page during the summer when parents lock themselves out of their cars.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 338
From: San Diego CA
Does OnStar eavesdrop
I took my car in for my free oil change yesterday. When I told the service rep what my mileage was she told me she pulled that info before I arrived. I do not have an active on star account but I wonder if that's how she got my mileage.
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
All 2015 have the 5 year basic plan so she would still be able to pull up your information to your car in the system.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
They already can track just about anything else they want. The info they collect is good profit for them. Some other manufacturers have a similar system but GM's seems to be most big brother like. Wait until spammers get a hold of your number. I finally DEACTIVATED mine which means it is pretty much dead. They'll warn you that you must call them to hook it back up, even the onstar button won't work. That is all I wanted in the first place.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I have OnStar on 3 vehicles and have never worried whether or not they could listen in to what is going on in the car or where I am located. Who gives a crap what I am doing? If they do listen they don't hear much. Same way for the vast majority of people driving their cars. If you are a criminal maybe you need to worry, otherwise, so what.
Bill
Bill
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 47
Likes: 2
Friend is a major software engineer and he stated YES
They can listen in and monitor vehicle status. There would have to be a valid/important reason for them to do so.
If you have a smartphone they can monitor your calls and even text messages if they want to.
It's the society we live in today. Technology has created a whole new realm of privacy issues which we are not really ready to deal with. Welcome to the tech age!
They can listen in and monitor vehicle status. There would have to be a valid/important reason for them to do so.
If you have a smartphone they can monitor your calls and even text messages if they want to.
It's the society we live in today. Technology has created a whole new realm of privacy issues which we are not really ready to deal with. Welcome to the tech age!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 4,323
From: Chirper Island
I have OnStar on 3 vehicles and have never worried whether or not they could listen in to what is going on in the car or where I am located. Who gives a crap what I am doing? If they do listen they don't hear much. Same way for the vast majority of people driving their cars. If you are a criminal maybe you need to worry, otherwise, so what.
Bill
Bill
You may not be doing anything you don't want someone knowing about, but that's not the way the laws were written. And certainly not the original intent.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 636
Likes: 60
Friend is a major software engineer and he stated YES
They can listen in and monitor vehicle status. There would have to be a valid/important reason for them to do so.
If you have a smartphone they can monitor your calls and even text messages if they want to.
It's the society we live in today. Technology has created a whole new realm of privacy issues which we are not really ready to deal with. Welcome to the tech age!
They can listen in and monitor vehicle status. There would have to be a valid/important reason for them to do so.
If you have a smartphone they can monitor your calls and even text messages if they want to.
It's the society we live in today. Technology has created a whole new realm of privacy issues which we are not really ready to deal with. Welcome to the tech age!
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 315
From: Cedar Falls Iowa