Jackzilla

Owners of '05 and '06 RLs, which are equipped with OnStar should be aware that starting in December OnStar plans to begin making available, for a charge, activity information it gathers from OnStar equipped cars. This information, about how owners drive, speed, use seat belts, brakes and other monitored functions, will be available to law enforcement agencies, marketers, auto companies and any other interested organizations. They will also be able to provide how, where, what roads are used, mileage driven, trip frequency, etc. AND, they can (will?) be doing it for ANY OnStar equipped vehicle, whether the owner is a paying OnStar subscriber OR NOT.

RL owners who are still subscribers to OnStar will (or already have) received written notification from OnStar outlining these new Terms & Conditions of their OnStar agreements. Those of us who are no longer subscribers will (may?) not be notified. Nevertheless, they may (will?) as stated in the new T&C be monitoring our activities. This is their actual NEW policy. It can be reviewed by going to the OnStar website or on many of the websites reporting on it.

Owners who don't want to be monitored CAN opt out by contacting OnStar to specifically request that they DO NOT want their cars monitored under the new T&C rules - which can call specific attention to you that you may not want.

I have checked the RL service manual to see if the OnStar module can be de-activated. It does not look to be a simple job - the system is wired into our cars in too many ways to make deactivation in any way a simple process. Pulling one fuse will do the job, but it will kill the entire sound system.

Perhaps the dealer service department has a way of doing it, so I have written to mine asking if it's possible. Will post any answer I get.

Don't want to read too much into this, but this kind of thing looks very suspicious considering that the government is a principal owner of General Motors, parent company of OnStar.

Draw your own conclusions.

06RL/NBP

One excellent advantage to having a subscription to Onstar is the anti theft factor. I have the window stickers on both left and right front windows. Cuts the risk of the car being stolen considerably.

oo7spy

There has been talk of years that law enforcement would some day use GPS systems to cite speeders. If it is a concern, call in and opt out. There is no need to fear that this will draw unwanted attention. You have rights and if you want to exercise them, the law has to respect that. Just like you can choose to not let a cop search your car per the fourth amendment. Let them think what they will, but you don't have to do it.

tnobori1

Crazy! I'd say to post in ramblings but if it's a repost, you'll never hear the end of it.

Zelaya

iTrader: (1)

I don't have mine activated. Does that means they can still monitor my driving experience and forward this information to nearest law enforcement. It's funny how citizens can't break the law but the law can. I'm not into politics but I can feel it is.The state want to find a way to gain more revenue. Just saying.

Carbon Legend

disconnect the GPS antenna and XM antenna. i barely use my GPS anyway

gogogoldrl

I thought my 2005 RL had an analog connection to Onstar that they didn't support any longer. They had a contest a few months ago and I tried to connect to sign up, but they didn't answer. Seems like the lights are on but its not functioning. I wonder?

neuronbob

2005 RLs have the analog connection so there is nothing to worry about as it doesn't work anymore.

2006s have a digital connection but use an older version of OnStar. There's really very little data to get. It's people like me who have OnStar version 8 and above who REALLY have to worry, there's a big kerfuffle on many of the GM boards including the Caddy board I frequent. OnStar is looking to sell consolidated data stripped of all personal information (VIN, etc).

Frankly, the cell phone companies are far worse in their big-brotherism and I don't see anyone putting down their cell phones.....though maybe really we should....THAT I worry about.

tnobori1

Bob, I'm with you on the cell phone thing! Don't even get me started on internet browsing and social networking privacy...