The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized a 20-year order against General Motors (GM) and its OnStar subsidiary on January 14, 2026. The action addresses the collection and sharing of customer vehicle data without adequate consent.
The order mandates that GM obtain explicit consent from customers before collecting or sharing connected vehicle data for the full 20-year term.
The ruling also bans GM from sharing geolocation and driving behavior data with consumer reporting agencies for a period of five years. These allegations stem from the OnStar "Smart Driver" feature, where data was sold to third-party data brokers who then provided it to insurance companies.
GM responded by stating it had already implemented compliance measures and remains committed to protecting customer privacy. Following the announcement of the order, GM shares reportedly dropped 2%.