OnStar
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OnStar is a subscription-based communications, monitoring, and tracking service provided by General Motors. As of 2005, it is a standard feature for many General Motors vehicles, and it will be standard on all new GM vehicles sold in North America by 2007 [link]. It is also currenty available on the Acura RL and MDX. Other manufacturers to offer Onstar in the past include Audi, Suburu and Volkswagen. The service is available for all vehicles that have the factory-installed OnStar hardware. It consists of both communication, through mobile phone networks, and tracking by GPS technology. Drivers and passengers can use its audio interface to contact OnStar representatives for concierge-like and emergency services; representatives, based out of Troy, MI and Charlotte, NC, can also initiate contact when vehicle telemetry indicates an emergency (for instance airbag deployment).
OnStar history
OnStar was originally developed from the work of Blue Octane, an IBM ExtremeBlue internship team.OnStar advocacy
OnStar advocates tout it as an essential safety tool. GM commercials have compared it to seatbelts and airbags, as the next major technology for safe driving. The benefits, they say, include its ability to aid police in tracking down stolen vehicles; contacting emergency medical services in case of an accident (should the driver request this or be non-responsive); notifying drivers of potentially dangerous mechanical problems; and unlocking doors for drivers (after verifying authorization over the phone) should their keys be misplaced or locked inside their car.OnStar criticism
Critics are wary of the possible privacy implications of OnStar and other similar and related technologies. They raise questions about whether police or others could make use of OnStar's tracking, whether legally or illegally, for surveillance or stalking. They cite cases where evidence collected by OnStar has already been used in court and where OnStar has contacted the police, against the driver's wishes, in the course of incidents such as hit-and-run accidents. Privacy advocates worry that innocent citizens may be hassled by the authorities due to false alarms.
Concerns are also raised about what might be done with the data collected by the vehicles' event data recorders, which are analogous to those on airplanes but not as sophisticated and do not currently function as voice recorders. For example, they say, insurance companies or auto dealers could use data suggesting reckless driving as the basis for denying claims or warranty service. Some critics compare OnStar with "Big Brother," from George Orwell's 1984. OnStar maintains that it is committed to maintaining the privacy of its customers.
At least one group has formed a website dedicated solely to publishing what it perceives as the dangers of using vehicles equipped with OnStar. OnStar Privacy was formed in 2005 and called for a boycott of all GM vehicles until GM makes OnStar optional and provided customers with information how to disable installed OnStar units, among other things.
Critics have maintained that OnStar's TV and radio marketing campaigns use fear as a motivating factor for customers to purchase the service.
OnStar Hardware
GM is currently deploying OnStar Generation 7 hardware that includes enhanced vehicles and diagnostics.OnStar hardware is currently manufactured by Motorola, although early models were made by Delphi.
External links and sources
- [OnStar Expands Services In Seventh Generation System]
- [OnStar home page]
- [Under the Hood, with Big Brother], a critical article in AutoWeek.
- [The Surveillance Society], article in Wired magazine.
- [OnstarForum - A Community For OnStar Enthusiasts]
- [Motorola Press Release]
- [Howstuffworks: "How OnStar Works"]
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