Along with Google and Amazon speakers in the home, it is clear that the new OnStar equipped vehicles have more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. Aside from a whole host of things "they can do for you" they now openly advertise a level of control over vehicles that should be at the very least concerning to most. You can see the specifics of what they boast here:

https://www.onstar.com/us/en/a...-helps-stop-thieves/

Including being able to bring your car to a complete stop, they essentially appear to be able to control many aspects of your vehicle's operation.

No way in hell would I ever buy a car where they can essentially fully control your vehicle by remote under the guise of it being a "helpful feature" or any other argument of its "benefits", let alone the fact they collect all information on vehicle use and can sell and provide it to others. Big brother indeed!

That feature has been used by law enforcement to bring (pursuit situations, stolen, etc) vehicles to a stop. There is a specific protocol to enable it.

Do you know of any situation it's been used for non emergency purposes?

I agree with Dtech. Things that are promoted as a benefit to us soon begin to be used against us.

quote:

Originally posted by az4783054:
That feature has been used by law enforcement to bring (pursuit situations, stolen, etc) vehicles to a stop. There is a specific protocol to enable it.

Do you know of any situation it's been used for non emergency purposes?

Yeah, I've seen the commercial. My first reaction was screw that. I don't want that crap in my vehicle.

"Specific protocol." Yeah, I'm sure.

Some years back I read an article about how F&G used OnStar to nab a poacher. They found tire tracks, matched them up to a GM vehicle, contacted OnStar to find out who was in that area, and ... nab.

I'm not a fan of that level of security.

I have no use for their product and do not want it.

Screw Big Brother, SkyNet is online.

0-0

I see the utility of it.

Lifesaver in certain circumstances.

That said...

I know human nature and I do not trust it with such tools.

Pre computer, my Dad said there's lots of bad laws but no way to enforce them so don't worry.

Now we have the abilities.

Not good.

Every car you guys drive that's been made in the last 20 years has a black box that records tons of info about the car you're driving. They may not be able to shut the car down but they are recording every dynamic of that vehicle.

They have also been used in court before. Driver says he was going the speed limit the black box told the jury otherwise.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
Every car you guys drive that's been made in the last 20 years has a black box that records tons of info about the car you're driving. They may not be able to shut the car down but they are recording every dynamic of that vehicle.

They have also been used in court before. Driver says he was going the speed limit the black box told the jury otherwise.

That is completely different than having 24/7 access to a vehicle's status, what it's doing, where it is, voice access to the vehicle, and being able to track and control many aspects of the vehicle remotely. There is a strict set of circumstances where that recorded data in the ECU/EDR can be accessed and used and generally requires a specific legal necessity to be obtained. In litigation, any resultant translation and interpretation of EDR data must be stated with reasonable engineering certainty and must meet certain clear tests before they are admissible in court. It may not even be intact and/or accessible given aftermarket ECU access and flashing technology done both for performance and privacy reasons by some.

Apples and oranges.

Hello Mr. Antenna cable...meet Mr. Flat Dykes

Wasn’t there a program on TV a while back showing a Jeep being hacked and they could control the accelerator pedal and steering remotely?

If your car is newer than 2010-ish or certain one’s going back as far as 2006,you may already own a car that can be controlled remotely. Link

2009.

Forget Big Brother. I'm worried about that little bastard with a bent for computers and a tendency to spend too much time in his mother's basement.

Onstar is owned by Garbage Motors so if you don’t own one, you’re good.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
Forget Big Brother. I'm worried about that little bastard with a bent for computers and a tendency to spend too much time in his mother's basement.

At least that little bastard would be subject to some accountability.

It's been a while since we had OnStar stop a car for us, but it takes alot of effort to get them on the phone.

Most cars have this, not just GM.
We got a call from Hyundai on night telling us a stolen vehicle was going through our city. We got near it and told them that, they shut the car down and locked the doors. When we said it was okay, they unlocked the doors and we took the kids out.

^^^^

Have I misunderstood? Hyundai shut down your car and locked you in it?

^^^^^^^^^^


Chowser is an LEO

Ohhh... that makes better sense now.
Thank you.