GM and OnStar are facing a lawsuit from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers accusing the companies of collecting and selling driver data without adequate consent, according to GM Authority.
Filed on behalf of the state of Nebraska, the suit alleges that GM misrepresented what OnStar-connected services do, led customers to believe OnStar enrollment was mandatory to access basic safety features, collected and sold personal data without adequate disclosure, and incentivized dealership employees to enroll customers without adequate consent.
GM has faced similar lawsuits recently, including one filed by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, and another filed last year seeking class-action status.
GM has said these claims are “unclear or lack merit,” sharing in a statement with GM Authority that vehicle owners must consent three times—with the final instance being through an insurance carrier—before data is shared with an insurance carrier through a third party.
“GM’s OnStar Smart Driver service is optional to customers, who give their consent three times before limited data is shared with an insurance carrier through a third party,” said GM. “Customer benefits include learning more about their safe driving behaviors or vehicle performance that, with their consent, may be used to obtain insurance quotes. Customers can also unenroll from Smart Driver at any time.”
