GM sold your driving data to insurance companies. Every hard brake, every time you went 5 over the speed limit, every late-night drive — packaged up and sold to LexisNexis and Verisk. People's insurance premiums jumped by hundreds of dollars. They had no idea their car was reporting on them. GM enrolled them in "Smart Driver" and sold the data behind their backs. OnStar tracks where you drive, where you park, and how long you stay. Police can request that data. In 2011, GM tried to keep tracking you even after you cancelled OnStar — only a Senate inquiry stopped them. Your car is a GPS tracker you pay $25/month for. Cancel the subscription? They still wanted to watch.
What they claim: GM privacy policy describes connected services data collection for safety and convenience features
What we found: A 2024 New York Times investigation found GM was selling detailed driving behaviour data — including hard braking, rapid acceleration, speeding, and late-night driving — to insurance data brokers LexisNexis and Verisk. Drivers' insurance premiums increased by hundreds of dollars based on data they did not know was being collected or sold. The data was gathered through the OnStar Smart Driver programme, which many owners had enrolled in unknowingly.
What they claim: GM promotes OnStar as a safety and security service for drivers
What we found: OnStar collects vehicle location data continuously and retains it. Law enforcement agencies have obtained OnStar location data through court orders and, in some cases, without warrants through emergency requests. In 2011, OnStar changed its terms to allow tracking vehicles even after owners cancelled service, reversing only after a Senate inquiry.
What they claim: GM describes data sharing as limited to service delivery and with customer consent
What we found: The FTC opened an investigation in 2024 into whether GM's data-sharing practices with insurance brokers constituted unfair or deceptive practices. Multiple class-action lawsuits were filed by drivers who discovered their insurance premiums had increased due to data they never knowingly shared. GM discontinued the Smart Driver data-sharing programme only after media exposure.