Black boxes in cars raise privacy concerns

jeff of pa · Dec 7, 2012

This is Not New to most of us but,
Beware newer vehicles

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many motorists don't know it, but it's likely that every time they get behind the wheel, there's a snitch along for the ride.
In the next few days, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to propose long-delayed regulations requiring auto manufacturers to include event data recorders — better known as "black boxes" — in all new cars and light trucks. But the agency is behind the curve. Automakers have been quietly tucking the devices, which automatically record the actions of drivers and the responses of their vehicles in a continuous information loop, into most new cars for years.

There's no opt-out. It's extremely difficult for car owners to disable the recorders. Although some vehicle models have had recorders since the early 1990s, a federal requirement that automakers disclose their existence in owner's manuals didn't go into effect until three months ago. Automakers who voluntarily put recorders in vehicles are also now required to gather a minimum of 15 types of data.

http://hosted2.ap.org/PAPOE/d9e770efdd4b467dbf1c088dc48d0192/Article_2012-12-07-Black%20Boxes-Cars/id-0f5659daae5544ca9640cdb5b13cd155

SpiritRelic · Dec 7, 2012

I heard about this.The industry claims they will have something to go on if the brakes fail or the car suddenly burst into flames.To look at what went wrong in a crash.Is all this technology good? It is like there is always some excuse to put the next camera up and the black box in.I wish i had a car.I am kind of tried of riding a bike.

Frankn · Dec 7, 2012

Jeff, the info your car gathers right now is minimal. It is mostly engine malfunctions like sparkplug #1 missfired, etc, BUT it does record the speed you were going when the air bags inflated. A scan tool will reset the problem codes, but the speed code locks in on the air bag inflation. Almost everything goes thru the ECM (Engine Control Module). I had a problem with my air condition dash unit on my motorhome. It turned out that the ECM supplies the - to the air condition relay. Luckily I have the shop Manual for it. Frank

jeff of pa · Dec 7, 2012

I don't have air bags LOL

Frankn · Dec 7, 2012

Jeff, I took the other route, I don't crash. Frank

JulianaFlorence · Dec 12, 2012

jeff of pa said:
This is Not New to most of us but,
Beware newer vehicles

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many motorists don't know it, but it's likely that every time they get behind the wheel, there's a snitch along for the ride.
In the next few days, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to propose long-delayed regulations requiring auto manufacturers to include event data recorders — better known as "black boxes" — in all new cars and light trucks. But the agency is behind the curve. Automakers have been quietly tucking the devices, which automatically record the actions of drivers and the responses of their vehicles in a continuous information loop, into most new cars for years.

There's no opt-out. It's extremely difficult for car owners to disable the recorders. Although some vehicle models have had recorders since the early 1990s, a federal requirement that automakers disclose their existence in owner's manuals didn't go into effect until three months ago. Automakers who voluntarily put recorders in vehicles are also now required to gather a minimum of 15 types of data.

709749[/ATTACH]]Republican Herald | News | republicanherald.com

Several sources indicate that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is returning to its black box proposal. If a rule is passed, all new automobiles in the U.S. will have to have a collision information recorder. Read more here

Red James Cash · Dec 13, 2012

Good reason never to buy a new car.

Frankn · Dec 13, 2012

The new saying at GM should be," Onstar, knows where you are!." If you have Onstar, they can track your location and they can kill your car. Can you see some misuses of this in the future. I can imagine they can do this to any GM car even if you aren't subscribed to the service. When I buy a new Vehicle, I always buy the Shop Manual. This would enable me to disconnect the Onstar antenna. Frank

spartacus53 · Dec 13, 2012

jeff of pa said:
I don't have air bags LOL

What are these air bags you speak of :dontknow:

I think my car was manufactured before the advent of air bags :laughing7:

dieselram94 · Dec 13, 2012

My 2010 Wrangler has one of these. At least that is what the manual says. Does the 1980's song somebody's watching me by Rockwell come to mind? Between this and cell phone gps tracking you can't get away with anything.

Frankn · Dec 14, 2012

dieselram94, At least you can turn off the GPS on the cell. The 94 ram had a mild version of the black box. It was expanded in 97 when the electronic fuel injectors came in. My 04 ram has the big boy bolted right to the side of the diesel. It controls just about everything as I found out tracing the air conditioning wiring. Frank

PS: Can you see it in the future, you take your car in for an emission test and it accesses the black box and prints out a stream of speeding tickets!!!! lol

redeyetonite · Dec 14, 2012

Yep, The Teknoligy Is In Smart Phones An Some New TVs, They Can Not Only Hear Buy See As Well, Anthing In Range Of The Device. So Your Watching TV An, Its Watchin You, Wether Its On Or Not . Privacy Is An Illiusion, Like Retirement An The Golden Years!

dieselram94 · Dec 14, 2012

Frankn, how do you like the 04 diesel? My wife has suggested in the past that we trade in the old 94 Dodge but I don't think I could ever part with that old truck. Its old and worn looking with a little over 400,000 miles but I love the mechanical injection. Mostly just use it in the winter as I put the wrangler in the garage all winter...can't have that getting covered in salt!

It is very creepy how much we are watched. But I must admit I have some hidden cameras on my land just watching and attempting to keep problems away. It has gotten to where you can't hardly trust anyone anymore.

Produce Guy · Dec 14, 2012

My friends son got in a real bad accident & almost died,the guy that hit him and his friends clamed he was only going 45 mph when they both hit.The first person on the seen was a tow truck driver who noticed the truck that hit the kids was a newer model with Onstar installed in it,he asked Onstar how fast was the truck going before it came to a stop,the Ostar operator said it was 75mph.So if you have Onstar in your Gm built car you already have it,reguardless if you buy the service or not

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Red James Cash · Dec 14, 2012

You may be able to turn off the gps in your cell phone but the mics can still be powered and used with the phone powered off.Pictures can also be taken without your knowledge and your position can be found with data from the picture just taken.Glad i dont own one :laughing9:

Frankn · Dec 15, 2012

Dieselram94, My diesel ram is a little different. I ordered it fully equipped. lol It has 40k on it. It has been across and arount the USA several times. It has 4 wheel drive which has saved my tail several times on jeep trails in AZ. Yea, I go where no MH has gone before. It is 22 1/2' long and has everything I need and more. The new one with air suspension looks good. Mine only has air bags in the rear, but they do the job. I bought the full shop manual and do all my own maintenance. Only problem has been air conditioner gas leakage and that was my fault for not running it each month. Frank

mercury1 · Dec 15, 2012

Frankn said:
dieselram94, At least you can turn off the GPS on the cell. The 94 ram had a mild version of the black box. It was expanded in 97 when the electronic fuel injectors came in. My 04 ram has the big boy bolted right to the side of the diesel. It controls just about everything as I found out tracing the air conditioning wiring. Frank

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=712712"/> PS: Can you see it in the future, you take your car in for an emission test and it accesses the black box and prints out a stream of speeding tickets!!!! lol

There are definitely busy body type people who would think this was good.

nsdq · Dec 15, 2012

they have been a help in insurance claims to figure out who did what like if blinker was on etc... and there was experiments in cal to disable vec in police stops etc but thats all i know,,,,

dieselram94 · Dec 15, 2012

Frankn, that is one SWEET motor home. I would love to have something like that. That would be a perfect rig to drive up to Chicken Alaska in to do some gold digging and nugget hunting. I bet you still get really good fuel mileage as it is before all the dpf and urea tanks.I love the southwest I used to live in socal for a while. I hear Arizona has pretty nice gold nuggets.

Frankn · Dec 16, 2012

Dieselram, It's an xplorer MH called the Xcursion. It cost app.$70k It gets between 13 & 14 MPG depending on speed and grade.
It's the best way to travel. Cross country overnite stays are free at reststops and Wallmart and shopping center lots plus truck stops like Loves and Flying J. I fix a lot of meals at the stops, but sometimes surcome to Cracker Barrel or Dennies. I also love Long John Silvers when I can find them. There is still gold at Quartzite and Yuma areas and cheap parking on BLM long term areas. In So Cal near Niland (Salton Sea) is a place called the Slabs. You can park there for free for as long as you want and there is flour gold there if you are skilled enough to find it in the washes. I am not a camper, but more a traveler and the MH is the best way to go. Frank
I am in GPAA so I have plenty of places to prospect.