Okay, putting on my tinfoil hat for this.
I wonder if OnStar randomly listens to in car conversations. Kinda like NSA might do or maybe just for entertainment.

 

Listen - heck they're watching you and monitoring your vehicle stats.

No, I think you're safe and can remove the tinfoil hat unless it's just a fashion statement in which case

 

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/

 

I doubt it.

 

Never activate it. The dealer gets money (I am told $100) for every sold vehicle that activates OnStar. I know it is hard to get off the lot unless OnStar is activated so one could consider taking the easy way out and cut a check to the dealer to not activate OnStar or stand firm. If never activated one doesn't get those startling messages to renew while driving down the road. One does get snail mail ads remind you that OnStar is not activated but none through the speakers.

Laborsmith

 

Could OnStar still have the ability to eavesdrop even if not activated? The equipment and software is still in place.

I read an article back in late 2013 about the upcoming PDR. It was originally going to have an additional camera that recorded the driver in valet mode. GM's lawyers shot it down saying it would be illegal without prior permission of the valet. With that camera in place it would have been a voyeur's paradise.

 

"Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you."

 

Can they?

The answer is yes.

Do they?

Don't know

It does not matter if you "activate" it or not. An agency with clearance can track your vehicle or listen to the
interior at any time. The only way around this is to not have an onstar equipped car.

This is not tinfoil hat stuff, this is common sense.

Certain agencies have had the ability to listen to your cell phone and track you for a long time, this is no different.

I'm not saying they are, but the capability is there.

 

I do not know if never activated precludes OnStar but I do know when I have successfully taken delivery w/o activating I have not gotten one of those messages through my speakers that can be so startling. I would think an unactivated unit would be a priority for those messages if they could be done.

The best course is to not drive a vehicle that has OnStar.

I remind OnStar I am your foremost proponent so no need to unleash the black Suburbans.

Laborsmith

 

There's no wires that you can cut to stop this nonsense, but not mess anything else up?

 

You could pull the Onstar module out, but unfortunately that is tied into the nav system, and might cause it to stop functioning. So, if you do not have navigation, then yes, you could simply disconnect the Onstar module. If you have factory navigation, then it might be more complicated.

How do i know? When I first took delivery, my navigation system could not get a GPS signal. I could also not connect to Onstar. They replaced a faulty Onstar module, which ties into the same GPS, and both problem went away.

 

I seriously doubt that OnStar listens in to random conversations. Why the heck would they want to in the first place?

 

They use the same GPS antenna with a 3 way splitter. In my car I added the factory nav later and used a separate antenna, which could easily be done to any C7 with factory nav. Then you simply unhook the original factory GPS antenna so the onstar module has no clue where you are. Have to figure out the cell phone part of Onstar too I think. That has to be a separate antenna. If you don't do that they might not know where you are, but they can still listen in while you plan that next drug deal with your mafia buddies.

 

From the OnStar Privacy Policy:

 

And you believe that?..............

Why do you think GM is called "Government Motors?"..............duh...




Yes, I'm bein sarcastic.......

 

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.

 

Sarcasm aside, and I clearly used it in my previous post in this thread, we should remember OnStar had been around for years, a decade I think, before the "Government Motors" name was popularized.

I also have as much trust in the idea that the OnStar system can not be misused as I have in the idea that a smartphone, Apple or Android, can not be misused in the same way.

Laborsmith

 

If they do, the only thing they'll hear is Hair Nation or Ozzy's Boneyard from the radio. Or me telling the driver in front of me that the light can't get any greener and to go the Hellz on!!

 

So far your assessment of the situation is ridiculous. All you did was reference criminal activity as the reason they would listen in. And I'm sure with a warrant they would as it's no different than having your phone tapped by a government agency WHEN YOU ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY!

 

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.....