Right to privacy and Conspiracy theories

These things have been discussed on here on numerous occasions in regard to nearly everything and not to long ago one of the things discussed was the OnStar systems being installed in the new cars. One of the biggest 'defenses' for the system was basically that 'no one' was really worried about individuals and the way they drove, where they drove, etc, etc. On one level that makes sense, but I ask you this.....Have you seen the ads for Progressive Insurances newest program called "Snapshot"??? It, in effect, does exactly what 'no one' does and moniters 'individual' driving habits. From what I can tell their device plugs into the car's diagnostic port and actually takes a 'snapshot' of the driving conditions the car experiences. Granted it can't tell exactly who is driving (but I wonder about that since many new cars have preprogramed control/seat adjustments for each driver) but it can tell the insurance company everything from how fast and hard you hit the gas, how fast and hard you brake, what time of day you drive, how long you spend driving, etc, etc, etc.

This gives them criteria to use to determine how likely you are to be in an accident, etc. Once they have that data then they will 'adjust' your rates to match. Thing is they have no idea where you drive, etc so while someone going 75 MPH might in a 55 zone might be likely to get into an accident, the same person going 55 in a 75 zone just as, if not more, likely to get into an accident too. Thing is because they don't know this both drivers are likely to get their rates set higher when in fact one of them is actually driving in the safest manner while the other isn't. Seems to me there is a minor flaw in their reasoning on some things but you know as well as I do when it comes to setting the rates they simply do not care and will jack up the rates on both individuals to further line their pockets.

Now they say they have a privacy policy as to what they can and can't do with the data, and they do. Thing is if you actually read it they leave themselves alot of wiggle room as to who they can share the data with, especially the part basically stating it can be used for 'research' purposes.

So, I ask you, who can say now that 'they' don't have time to worry about individuals? The same information that Progressive is using here, though obtained in a different, yet voluntary manner, is the same information that could also be TAKEN involuntarily by systems like OnStar that integrate with the vehicle's computer. That said, just remember, simply because there are say 30 million vehicles out there, doesn't mean that there has to be someone setting behind a terminal 24/7/365 to keep a watch over them. All it takes is one guy taking the time to write a piece of computer code to do the watching. From that point on one computer can take a 'snapshot' of all 30 million 24/7/365, and condense it down into something that that one person can use to set rates, etc, etc, as his 40 hour per week job............

While I'm far from what even I would consider a conspiracy theorist, things like this really give you alot to think about, when you take the time to think about it at least a little to start with.

I believe this was predicted by George Orwell in his book 1984

The only thing there is if an insurance company wants the info on how you drive and has to offer discounts to gather that info they are not getting it from On star. Yea they could collect that data and sell it but so far they are not doing it.

When I replied to a prior post about police agencies using it to track you still stands true. They just don't have enough people to monitor the system and they will not be able to tell what you are doing at a given location with just On star. Now I'm sure that if they suspected someone of say holding up a bank and they knew that the individual involved had On star they would get a search warrant to try to place that persons vehicle at the bank at the time of the holdup. But they are not going to apply resorces to try to monitor everyones movements. They just don't have the time or money. Go look up just how effective the FBI is at catching criminals. They are no where as good as they would have you believe.

Don't get me wrong I do believe that our government is out of control and needs to get much smaller and less intrusive but I just don't see em using this info right now. Now if the government tried passing something saying we should all have those devices installed in out vehicles then I would really start to wonder just what they are up to.

Rick

In todays world some tracking devices can be
Helpfull

unfortunately, he was a prophet.

I"ve for a long time have refused to buy a vehicle with On Star because I don"t believe I should be tracked as an adult. Or have my car turned off by the police or anyone else for that matter with out a court order.

I'm glad it wasn't able to record me on 81N last evening on the way home from work.

Wayne raises a legitimate point. Big Brother and the Nanny State are no longer Norwellian concepts, THEY ARE HERE. And all those promies "we keep this private" YEAH RIGHT.

As an Attorney I"m somewhat familiar with the concept of a persons "reasonable expectation of privacy" but the question is whats "reasonable" in this high tech age and that boundary is certainly getting stretched.

Dont get me wrong, I"m pro law enforcement and figure if Ive done nothing wrong I have nothing to hide, but also fear the Big Brother Nanny State is expanding. You know when you make a store purchase with your credit or debit card data regarding what you buy (junk food, high fat food, alcohol, guns, bullets, etc etc) can be tracked, so if the food and fat police and other militant vegetarians and animal rights activists (ultra abundant progressives mostly) get hold of that data, think what they can do. The fat police have already infiltrated schools ya know.. I believe in individual responsibility and want to keep fit and do good for the earth much as the next guy BUT I LIKE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE, NOT BIG BROTHER MAKING THE CHOICE FOR ME AND PUNISHING ME BY LAW IF I CHOOSE OTHERWISE.

John T Christian Conservative Patriot and proud of it

Take care n God Bless

Thats better than using credit scores as a guide for insurance as they do now . But both wrong

Think about this. Who owns Onstar?

(reply to post at 05:33:59 10/29/11)

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When traveling the interstates I have observed the pre-approved pass detectors at the DOT scales, where the trucks that are pre-approved just pull into the detector lane and usually sail right on by without slowing down or stopping. Occasionally I have seen the message show up for the truck to pull into the scale.

I have always wondered how much information DOT can gather from this system. It is conceivable that they can keep track of when the truck was approved, when it passes each of the weight stations and from that could monitor speed, time driving etc.

I am just curious and would be interested in comments from those of you with knowledge of this system.

I quit sunbathing because I did not want to turn up on Google Earth

I just lay facedown with my --- in the air. If you got it flaunt it. But as John T has stated it here and you will have to live with it.

You are right Wayne.
But the car insurance companies want to know what Tom, Dick, Larry are doing on the road, so they know who is risky.
Think about the stupid schitt you did as a kid, speeding being only part of it. I dont agree with monitoring cars, but if I found out that my 16 year old was driving 100mph on the freeway I would want to know about it and the insurance company may cancel his policy.
Plain and simple the insurance companies want to be able to know who is a high risk and who is not.
I received an email 2 weeks ago that explains in short that VA doctors will ask you "do you own firearms" "do you also feel violent"? Of course That is none of their business, I may own zero guns or 150 of them, F.U. it isnt your business, kick my door in and find out if I own firearms.
I got a life insurance policy 3 years ago, the insurance company called my doctor, checked my driving record too........At first you would say "none of their fricken business" but....They need to know if I have a DUI, or speeding tickets, etc. I did get approved for the policy.

You are wise man, also dont look up cause you will be on camera from 22,000 miles up.

You've been slowly losing your privacy for years. It's only getting more blatant recently. There are few things you do that someone, somewhere isn't tracking. Every time you use a store discount card to make a purchase, that purchase is being tracked and that information is being used and sold. Yep, somebody knows you bought that tube of Preparation H last week, and they're trying to figure out how to make a buck off it.

how many of you guy use cell phones or cordless phones? anybody receive the signal from them and use it, even as evidence in court. the only type of phone that is private is a landline on a wired connection. most people use a cordless or cell. we pay for convenience by loss of privacy.

frank

Be careful what you say. Big brother probably monitors this forum also.

I have much more important things to worry about.

He does,
But Screw him anyway!

Google your name and see how private you are.
Or all those little cookies and spyware that's put in your computer.
If you order on-line back through the pages and see if all your info and credit card numbers are still there.

Just do what I do. Never do anything interesting.

"I received an email 2 weeks ago that explains in short that VA doctors will ask you "do you own firearms" "do you also feel violent"?"
That's interesting, I've been going to VA for years, they have never asked me that.

Law enforcement and citizens for an orderly if crowded society have for years insisted that driving is a PRIVILEGE, not a right, therefore many rules, laws, taxes, enforcement and take or leave it. Everyone must have a third entity called insurance get in the middle, it is the law.

Funny how this reasoning doesn't work for health care. Apparently having a comfortable life isn't even a privilege, but I digress.

I should pay higher premiums because of a general one size fits all lack of accuracy in the actuarial business? I pay for someone's road rage, impairments, sleepiness, inattention, lack of skill and you pay for mine.

For all the whining about freedoms disappearing, I never hear a complaint about the 800 lb gorilla who lives with us called the insurance industry. How did that thing creep into our lives? How about everyone taking on their own responsibilities without insurance. Wouldn't that be the ultimate "taking care of our own"?
Leo

Trucks have a little gadget on the side of the cab. Its used for tracking. When you pull in for full it tells the truck # milage, how long you stop and where how fast your going at a certian time and place. I heard a long time ago that the DOT would be able to pull you over for checks and if you had been speeding give you a ticket. As far as I know it hasn't happened but it wouldn 't suprise me if it does. And if it does CARS will be next. How would you like that, having to be a PERFECT PERSON ALL THE TIME. How many perfect people on here?

Years of progressive nanny state government has weakened many peoples minds to the point they are convinced they cannot take care of themselves or their families. Much of this invasiveness is touted as ''doing it for the children'' dupes who are too lazy to raise their own children are suckered in, most children today need exactly what they needed 50 years ago or 100 years ago, guidance and attention from someone who is interested in their welfare and their hind ends warmed up when they stray from doing as they are told.

(reply to post at 16:35:26 10/29/11)

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I know that in the large trucking companies there are no secrets between the drivers and the dispatchers one of my ex neighbors drove a flatbed for a national company and the last truck he had when he drove for them reported everything to the dispatcher, they knew where he was at, how fast he was driving, how many hours he had driven how long he was stopped and if he was following the route planned for him. He had to input all expenses into the computer such as fuel, oil changes, wash jobs, and any other expenses, and his receipts had to match the inputs

When he was home, in the winter time, the computer would start the truck and run it every so often. After he was home and notified dispatch that he was home, if he wanted to move the truck more than about 15 feet he had to notify dispatch or after about 15ft the truck would shut down and lock the brakes on the “stolen truck”.

It never occurred to me at the time to ask him how much electronic information was available to DOT.

Yup.

Then it may not be true. I am not a vet.

I was asked by my family doctor if I owned any firearms. I said yes but they are locked up 100% of the time. I should have said....Um nope, no guns for me. It is really BS that she asked me this cause it has nothing to do with my yearly physical, which is when she asked me this.

If they ever ask me, I'll be ready with a blank look and a reply of "what in the world does that have to do with my Blood pressure?"