Katshot
Well-Known LVC Member
Big Brother or just progress?
There is a new threat to your security AND your pocketbook. For the last few years, the automotive industry has been silently installing componentry into new cars that could threaten your personal security, privacy and even end up costing you your hard-earned money or your license. What is this secret new technology? Well, they’re called Event Data Recorders, or EDR’s for short. I’m sure there are a few people here that have heard of them but I’ll bet there are few that realize just how much of a potential threat they pose to you. The EDR was originally installed as basically a “black-box” for the purpose of gathering crash data for the OEM engineers to study post accident, but now their data parameters are growing to include items that have nothing to do with accident data or SIR efficiency. Now, a new breed of EDR is starting to be used for other purposes. They are being used to work with other modules such as the OnStar systems in GM cars. They can record all kinds of things, and with the use of an integrated GPS system, they can record not only WHAT happened and WHEN it happened but, WHERE. This kind of information could reap large benefits to several people. The OEM – suppose you go out and “play” with your new sports car, only to get a letter from the manufacturer stating that your warranty is void due to your “playing”. That’s right, you’ve just been ratted-out by your own car! Your insurance company – Think this is far-fetched? Not so. It’s already being used by some to track where you drive, how you drive, and when you drive.
How about the federal government – that’s right, they want to know where you are and they want evidence to use against you in court if they need it. Think THAT’s far-fetched? Think again, part of the Patriot Act addresses that very point and has made it possible for the FBI to get that data from your EDR(s) without your permission, whenever they want it. How about your spouse – how fun would it be for you to be able to know where that cheating spouse of yours is? Just think how useful it would’ve been to have these little beauties in all those Audi’s that were “supposed” to have a problem with unintended acceleration! Audi would’ve saved MILLIONS! And their reputation would never have taken the hit it did.
So even though it’s nice to know that when you have an accident, OnStar (or any other company like it) will call emergency personnel and guide them directly to you, remember what you’re giving up for that convenience. Big Brother is here and now and right in your car. You might think that the information in that EDR is yours since you own the car, right? Wrong! As of right now, that is NOT necessarily the case. Any judge can issue an order to get without your permission. The NTSB wants control of the data, the NHTSA is still on your side but all this can change. It will be battled out in the courts and it WILL impact us all. Yeah, it sounded like a great idea to be able to know where your kids are driving and how, right? And it was great to be able to pay tolls automatically right? Believe me, it’s only a matter of time before they start issuing speeding tickets based on mathematical calculations of your average speed on the highway. And how could you fight it? You passed this toll at this time, and then passed the next at this time. Do the math and it’s pretty darn easy to determine and average speed, huh?
Well, I just wanted to see what everyone thought about this new technology.
There is a new threat to your security AND your pocketbook. For the last few years, the automotive industry has been silently installing componentry into new cars that could threaten your personal security, privacy and even end up costing you your hard-earned money or your license. What is this secret new technology? Well, they’re called Event Data Recorders, or EDR’s for short. I’m sure there are a few people here that have heard of them but I’ll bet there are few that realize just how much of a potential threat they pose to you. The EDR was originally installed as basically a “black-box” for the purpose of gathering crash data for the OEM engineers to study post accident, but now their data parameters are growing to include items that have nothing to do with accident data or SIR efficiency. Now, a new breed of EDR is starting to be used for other purposes. They are being used to work with other modules such as the OnStar systems in GM cars. They can record all kinds of things, and with the use of an integrated GPS system, they can record not only WHAT happened and WHEN it happened but, WHERE. This kind of information could reap large benefits to several people. The OEM – suppose you go out and “play” with your new sports car, only to get a letter from the manufacturer stating that your warranty is void due to your “playing”. That’s right, you’ve just been ratted-out by your own car! Your insurance company – Think this is far-fetched? Not so. It’s already being used by some to track where you drive, how you drive, and when you drive.
How about the federal government – that’s right, they want to know where you are and they want evidence to use against you in court if they need it. Think THAT’s far-fetched? Think again, part of the Patriot Act addresses that very point and has made it possible for the FBI to get that data from your EDR(s) without your permission, whenever they want it. How about your spouse – how fun would it be for you to be able to know where that cheating spouse of yours is? Just think how useful it would’ve been to have these little beauties in all those Audi’s that were “supposed” to have a problem with unintended acceleration! Audi would’ve saved MILLIONS! And their reputation would never have taken the hit it did.
So even though it’s nice to know that when you have an accident, OnStar (or any other company like it) will call emergency personnel and guide them directly to you, remember what you’re giving up for that convenience. Big Brother is here and now and right in your car. You might think that the information in that EDR is yours since you own the car, right? Wrong! As of right now, that is NOT necessarily the case. Any judge can issue an order to get without your permission. The NTSB wants control of the data, the NHTSA is still on your side but all this can change. It will be battled out in the courts and it WILL impact us all. Yeah, it sounded like a great idea to be able to know where your kids are driving and how, right? And it was great to be able to pay tolls automatically right? Believe me, it’s only a matter of time before they start issuing speeding tickets based on mathematical calculations of your average speed on the highway. And how could you fight it? You passed this toll at this time, and then passed the next at this time. Do the math and it’s pretty darn easy to determine and average speed, huh?
Well, I just wanted to see what everyone thought about this new technology.
