Big Brother Is Watching

[IndyPaceCar]

I apologize if this topic has already been discussed. I tried searching the forum, but the search feature was not functioning. If it has been discussed, please provide links to the discussion pages.

Just received my insurance renewal notices for my 2021 1SS. It showed a 25% premium increase, and mentioned that premiums are based on a number of factors, including personal data in a report provided to the insurance company by a company called LexisNexis. It also mentioned that you can request a copy of this report from LexisNexis, which I did, and they mailed me a letter containing a website and password to be used in viewing , and/or downloading/printing the 150+ page report. It contains information such as credit history, residence addresses, etc.

I was quite surprised to find that it also contained data provided by General Motors Holding in Detroit pertaining to my driving practices. There were records of 175 trips which included data categories for each trip :
Start Date, Start Time, End Date, End Time, Acceleration Events, Hard Brake Events, High Speed Events, Distance, and VIN. I was aware that various insurance companies offer incentives if you install a monitoring device which captures this data, but had no idea that GM was collecting this data, and providing to third parties. I called my insurance agent to ask if this data may have been a factor in the 25% increase in my premium; he said that the insurance company does not reveal to him how much each of the 40 or so factors influences the premiums, and also that he was totally unaware that GM was providing this data.

I did not extend the use of OnStar or the My Chevy app once the free introductory periods expired, but from what I’ve read, GM still collects this information and provides it, and the ability to collect it is somehow tied to the vehicle’s infotainment and/or Bluetooth features. I tried googling to see if there are ways to disable this, and was unable to come across any information that might be helpful.

Does anybody have any comments on this issue ? Does anybody know how to prevent GM from gathering this data (short of removing the infotainment and Bluetooth features from the vehicle). ?

Thanks

[Mark R]

Wow. That is freaky, but not actually surprising. I have a link from the forum to disconnect the On-Star. I hope somebody chimes in about whether this mod will cut the data link to GM.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467634

[IndyPaceCar]

Originally Posted by Mark R

Wow. That is freaky, but not actually surprising. I have a link from the forum to disconnect the On-Star. I hope somebody chimes in about whether this mod will cut the data link to GM.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467634

thanks !

[ZPirate]

I agree with you. It is certainly troubling that GM is not only tracking information on how you drive, but also providing that information to third parties. Unfortunately, technology and the internet has given birth to almost everything we do now being tracked by someone. And no I am not a conspiracy theorist.

I'd certainly rather not have GM or anyone else looking over my shoulder when I drive. That's one reason I enjoy driving my 20 year old Z. No wi fi connection and no black box. I'm afraid those are a fact of life now for modern vehicles. It's disconcerting in so many ways, but as consumers we have brought this on ourselves by wanting to always be connected.

[FH212]

This HAS to be some sort of an infringement of our privacy if this is happening. How is that legal for GM to collect and REPORT that info without our knowledge? This whole idea is wrong and truly disturbing.

[Mark R]

I would love to see a sample of the data they provide LexisNexis. Can you post a page without harming your privacy?

[ZPirate]

OP, may I ask who your insurance company is?

[IndyPaceCar]

Originally Posted by Mark R

I would love to see a sample of the data they provide LexisNexis. Can you post a page without harming your privacy?

With the exceptions of my name and the car's VIN number, this is exactly how one of the 175 trip records appeared in the report. I had probably gone to the grocery store which is close to my house

Record Number : 174 (YOUR NAME)

Trip Details

Start Date 08/18/2022 Start Time 11:14a
End Date 08/18/2022 End Time 11:24a

Acceleration Events 2 Hard Brake Events 2

High Speed Events 0 Distance 4.1

VIN 1G1FFxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Mark R]

Originally Posted by IndyPaceCar

With the exceptions of my name and the car's VIN number, this is exactly how one of the 175 trip records appeared in the report. I had probably gone to the grocery store which is close to my house

Record Number : 174 (YOUR NAME)

Trip Details

Start Date 08/18/2022 Start Time 11:14a
End Date 08/18/2022 End Time 11:24a

Acceleration Events 2 Hard Brake Events 2

High Speed Events 0 Distance 4.1

VIN 1G1FFxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Scandalous! How do they define a "High Speed Event," I wonder?

At least they don't post the highest speed attained on each trip.

[IndyPaceCar]

Originally Posted by ZPirate

OP, may I ask who your insurance company is?

State Farm. From what I have read, just about all of the major insurance companies use LexisNexis in varying capacities for personal information

[ZPirate]

Originally Posted by IndyPaceCar

With the exceptions of my name and the car's VIN number, this is exactly how one of the 175 trip records appeared in the report. I had probably gone to the grocery store which is close to my house

Record Number : 174 (YOUR NAME)

Trip Details


Start Date 08/18/2022 Start Time 11:14a
End Date 08/18/2022 End Time 11:24a

Acceleration Events 2 Hard Brake Events 2

High Speed Events 0 Distance 4.1

VIN 1G1FFxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wow! That is an amazing amount of data being provided to a third party by GM.

[ZED SLED]

Onstar has a feature called Smart Driver that tracks all this. Normally, you would have to agree to sign up for it, but sometimes I think you can automatically be signed up. Of the many GM cars I've owned with Onstar, my 2017 ZL1 was the only one that had this enabled, and I don't recall asking for it. IIRC, you have to call them to get it removed. I never saw it affect my insurance though, so doubt it is automatically reported. My insurance did increase about 17% across my 3 vehicles for latest policy, but that is more to do with inflation and used car prices, according to my agent.

But 2 hard accel and brake events, lol. I wish I still had access to mine. Once, over one trip of 87 miles, it showed 147 hard accels, and 83 hard brakes, but that could've been the day we went to Watkins Glen

[IndyPaceCar]

Originally Posted by Mark R

Scandalous! How do they define a "High Speed Event," I wonder?

At least they don't post the highest speed attained on each trip.

I think I recall reading that in the State Farm Drive Safe and Save data collection program that High Speed is considered to be at least 8 mph over the posted limit.

[ZPirate]

Originally Posted by IndyPaceCar

State Farm. From what I have read, just about all of the major insurance companies use LexisNexis in varying capacities for personal information

Thanks. I still amazed that GM not only collects the data, but provides it to a third party. Wonder if there's a way to opt out of them collecting the data in the first place.