Black boxes becoming more common in cars
posted March 11th 2005 4:34AM
Think your car is spying on you? If you're driving a late-model GM car, as well as a handful of cars from other makers, you may just be right. According to a detailed report on News.com, automakers are continuing to add airplane-style black boxes to cars, with GM leading the way. Analysts quoted by News.com estimate that up to 65% of all new vehicles sold last year had black boxes, which typically store a few seconds of data about a car's speed, direction and other vitals. In the event of an accident, the data can help determine liability. However, privacy issues have been raised by groups like the Consumers Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, since automakers are not currently required to tell consumers that the boxes are there. However, given that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recommended that the boxes be required on all new vehicles, you should just assume one is there, and drive accordingly. Either that or next time you're getting your ride pimped, have them check for the box while they're at it.
For once, honestly for the first time I will say screw privacy on this issue. People around here (which is hardly singular) drive with so little decency they DESERVE to be monitored. This can only be a good thing for people who have to suffer the stupidity of the few.
No crime, nothing to worry about right?
Just for that issue though ;)
As long as I own the car, I own the box... That's what my American thinking has me believe. It could go both ways though in an accident, not only proving you were at fault, but possibly proving you weren't. I imagine that in order for this to catch on insurance companies will include a clause that they have the rights to access the data or will give you a discount if you have it in your car.
My '05 Saab manual specifically states that there is a black box in the car. Thank you, GM, for giving me a reason to "accidentally" torch my car after I get in an accident.
As long as I own the car, I own the box...
-- just like your camcorder that caught your spouse stealing something.. you own the camcorder and the tape, but both can be subpeanad (however that's spelled ;). Someone needs to start a tidy business of nullifying these things. I'm all for them when they are used for analysis in safety design, but when they enter courtrooms and attack the owner - forget it.
After all, the guy with the higher priced attorney wins, guilty or otherwise.
Isn't it strange that we give up our privacy in small bites. This is another one. There is actually law makers that want GPS in these boxes so they can track where you go and to tax you on the amount you drive. Why give people another reason to spy on you and eventually boxes like this will be used to controll the population of the country. (Big Brutha)