The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a settlement with General Motors and its OnStar division over allegations the automaker collected and sold sensitive driver data without adequate consent. The action stemmed from complaints that GM's "Smart Driver" program deceptively enrolled consumers, then shared their precise geolocation and driving behavior with third parties like data brokers and insurance companies.
Under the 20-year order, GM is prohibited for five years from sharing this type of data with consumer reporting agencies. The company must now obtain explicit, affirmative consent before collecting or sharing connected-vehicle data and must provide consumers with ways to access and delete their data. GM had already discontinued the Smart Driver program in April 2024 in response to customer feedback.