General Motors Agrees to $220 Million Settlement Over Driver Data Privacy Claims
General Motors (GM) has reached a $220 million settlement with a coalition of 36 U.S. attorneys general following allegations that the automaker illegally sold driver and location data to third-party brokers. The claims centered on GM's discontinued 'Smart Driver' program, which collected metrics such as acceleration, braking, and trip length. Prosecutors alleged this data was sold to insurance companies, leading to increased premiums for consumers without their explicit knowledge or consent. As part of the settlement, GM is required to implement stricter data collection limits and must obtain express consent from drivers before gathering personal information. This legal resolution follows a previous $12.75 million settlement in California regarding similar privacy concerns. The case highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny over how automotive manufacturers monetize consumer telemetry and driving habits.