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GM agrees to $220 million multistate settlement over driver data sales

2 sources · 2 articlesFirst reported Updated ()
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First merged summary.

Merged summary · x-ai/grok-4.7 · rewritten as coverage arrivesSummaries by Vani AI

GM will pay $220 million and tighten consent rules after 36 attorneys general alleged it sold Smart Driver data to insurers.

General Motors agreed to pay $220 million and change privacy practices to settle claims by 36 attorneys general that it enrolled drivers in OnStar Smart Driver and sold identifiable location and driving-behavior data to brokers that supplied insurers. The program ran from 2016 until GM ended it in April 2024. The settlement requires affirmative express consent before collecting or sharing driving and location data and limits collection. An FTC order in January 2026 already required express consent. California settled separately for $12.75 million, and a Texas case remains pending.

Key facts
  • Settlement is with 35 states and the District of Columbia.
  • OnStar app told more than 370,000 drivers they were not enrolled or monitored.
  • Those customers were later unenrolled without notice; data allegedly remained with brokers and insurers.
  • Dealerships were incentivized, including bonuses, to enroll customers.
  • Texas still seeks up to $10,000 per offense, deletion, and a jury trial.
  • California’s separate settlement was $12.75 million.
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What each outlet adds

beyond the shared facts
  • The RecordAlleges data stayed with brokers after silent unenrollments and details Texas demands.
  • The RegisterDates the April 2024 shutdown, January 2026 FTC order, and California’s $12.75 million deal.
Vendors
General Motors
Products
Smart DriverOnStar
Organizations
Federal Trade Commission
Countries
United States

Coverage

oldest first · one row per article · UTC
  1. · 1d ago The RecordFirst report

    GM to pay $220 million over selling driver data to 36 states

    Attorneys general say GM sold Smart Driver location and behavior data to brokers that resold it to insurers from 2016 through 2024.

  2. · 18h ago The Register · Security

    GM agrees to $220 million multistate settlement over driver data

    Investigators say OnStar’s Smart Driver data reached insurers through brokers, and the OnStar app misled more than 370,000 drivers.