DC owns my Driving data !!! Yikes !!!

[csavard]

I would like to know if all the data that DC collects on our trucks is stored in the ECM or is it in another 'Little Black Box' someplace? My dealer told me the new trucks record everything from braking percentage to speed to acceleration, etc, and stores it all in memory. He stated that DC owns this data and should the truck be involved in an accident or is written off, DC has the right to pull the data for 'their' use.



I don't know if I am the only one who is creeped out by this invasion of privacy but it doesn't sit well with me. Am I overly paranoid that I own a truck which is being continually monitored by a piece of electronics whose whole intent is to report back to DC?

 

[BHolm]

Yes! It is very creepy and the data is VERY extensive on the new vehicles. This has been going on much longer than you think too, almost since the advent of computerized controls a decade ago.



Sometimes they DO turn this information over to insurance investigators or authorities. Big Brother IS watching



I know I had a tech pull some codes for me and as I glanced over his shoulder I could see the realtime data that revealed a 38 psi boost pressure... . oooops

 

[AllianceDiesel]

I have never seen that data, yes they can look at your idle times and information like that but I have never heard of crazy info like that, but who knows they have some pretty interesting scanners that they wouldn't let me mess with when I was at training.

 

[BHolm]

What I saw was right on the DRB scanner. It had road speed, rpm, boost pressure, throttle percentage and a host of other items. There didn't seem to be any trick at all to call it up.

 

[Jeepstang]

It's to protect them when joe blow claims something to the tune of oh I used my brakes and it was the trucks fault that I was involved in an accident. Then someone from DC comes in with insurance companies and lawyers to see what actually happened and what the driver did before the accident. In my opinon for us honest people I like the fact they can use this to protect us from the others that say it was not their fault etc. Hell they have hundreds of traffic cameras as well as satilites that can read the time on a wrist watch so why is this any different?

 

[BHolm]

It's to protect them when joe blow claims something to the tune of oh I used my brakes and it was the trucks fault that I was involved in an accident. Then someone from DC comes in with insurance companies and lawyers to see what actually happened and what the driver did before the accident. In my opinon for us honest people I like the fact they can use this to protect us from the others that say it was not their fault etc. Hell they have hundreds of traffic cameras as well as satilites that can read the time on a wrist watch so why is this any different?

That may be all they use it for now but that data has the ability to be easily abused. Sure there are lots of ways we are watched, that doesn't bother you at all? Are you ALWAYS perfectly law abiding? Maybe they decide to start issueing speeding tickets based on this info? Maybe a lot of scary consequences. I don't want to come off all paranoid but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to implement data collection like this under innocent auspecies and later turn around and change the rules on us. Just another bad precedent in my mind. I am very scared about the data government has access too, have you seen our Presidential choices this year? Do you think you can truely trust any of them?

 

[AllianceDiesel]

Oh I see your have a 6. 7l never got to do any work or plug the scanner on them before I quit the dealership, who knows, and by the way its not a drb it would of been the star scanner

 

[RDHamill]

I guess I don't have much of a problem with the collection of the data, but I'm not in agreement that anyone but me is the owner of the data. Any entity that wants a guarentee to access the data, can make a request in writing, and expect to pay a fee for storage in "my" computer.



Wonder if there are any cases of legal action over this data? could be interesting

 

[csavard]

I guess I don't have much of a problem with the collection of the data, but I'm not in agreement that anyone but me is the owner of the data. Any entity that wants a guarentee to access the data, can make a request in writing, and expect to pay a fee for storage in "my" computer.



Wonder if there are any cases of legal action over this data? could be interesting

I guess that is my real issue here.



Does the ECM and data in it belong to me or DC? When I purchased the truck I was told that DC has the 'right' to the data should teh truck be involved in an accident. I don't recall signing a waiver of any kind giving them that privilege.



I am all for donating my truck's performance data to help with future trucks but I do not want my data given to some insurance company. If I hit some ice & wreck the truck can the insurance company have the ECM pumped for data to see if I was 1 mile over the limit and whether or not I hit the brakes? This sounds like a great opportunity for insurance companies to save some bucks by rejecting claims ... thanks to DC. ( OK, OK, here I go being paranoid again... )



I am sure the performance data in my ECM is nothing DC would want at this point anyhow - with all the mods- haha



I realize consumers are loosing more and more privacy all the time but I never expected my truck to be spying on me. .

#@$%!

 

[JasonCzerak]

I guess that is my real issue here.

Does the ECM and data in it belong to me or DC? When I purchased the truck I was told that DC has the 'right' to the data should teh truck be involved in an accident. I don't recall signing a waiver of any kind giving them that privilege.

I am all for donating my truck's performance data to help with future trucks but I do not want my data given to some insurance company. If I hit some ice & wreck the truck can the insurance company have the ECM pumped for data to see if I was 1 mile over the limit and whether or not I hit the brakes? This sounds like a great opportunity for insurance companies to save some bucks by rejecting claims ... thanks to DC. ( OK, OK, here I go being paranoid again... )

I am sure the performance data in my ECM is nothing DC would want at this point anyhow - with all the mods- haha

I realize consumers are loosing more and more privacy all the time but I never expected my truck to be spying on me. .
#@$%!

They do not have crap for rights over the data in your truck. It's like saying, Microsoft owns all your data, cuz you run windows.

IF you are in an accident, DO NOT EVERY TURN YOUR TRUCK OVER TO CHRYSER OR ANYONE! Not even the insurane company

UNTIL YOU HAVE CERTIFIED CHECK IN HAND!!!!

Then they can do what every they want with the data.


Did you know, it's illegal for Bestbuy to "check your bag" after you leave and paid? Same train of thought, it's yours, your privacy.

They are only doing that as a scare.

As far as performance data. pfffft. that's bull poop also. 1mph over the limit and no brake action? Here's one, not al accident avoidance maneuvers require a brake peddle. In just as many case, speeding up and turning outa the way i best course of action.

 

[kblranch]

I believe if you get in a major accident especially if there is a fatallity they will confiscate your auto/truck and remove the "black box" to review the speed, braking etc. This just happened in Reno when a highway trooper was killed when hit by another car. Both boxes are being reviewed by the DA to see who was at fault and if charges are going to be filed on the other driver.

 

[brods]

They have been around quite a while and used in plenty of court cases. I remember reading a long time ago that GM got so tired of requests to retrieve the data from the black boxes that they let a company sell software to allow others to download the data.



Here’s an article from back in 2003. It says manufacturers started installing some form of black boxes back in the 1990's:



USATODAY.com - Autos' black-box data turning up in courtrooms

 

[JasonCzerak]

I believe if you get in a major accident especially if there is a fatallity they will confiscate your auto/truck and remove the "black box" to review the speed, braking etc. This just happened in Reno when a highway trooper was killed when hit by another car. Both boxes are being reviewed by the DA to see who was at fault and if charges are going to be filed on the other driver.

So long as there is a warrant for it. Sure. But I've never heard of them taking the "black boxes" unless you were doing some criminal prior, and that's understandable, and even then, a warrant is require since it's your property.



But I'm sure there are loopholes in the law that makes this possible. it's restaded.

 

[JasonCzerak]

more proff, Chrysler owns nothing.



Black Box FAQs



Now, I skimmed the page, but it looks like some states do have loop holes put int place to invade your privacy at will.

 

[kblranch]

It is most likely under the implied consent when you sign your drivers license. Just like having to submit to a drug/alcohol test if you get caught drinking and driving.

 

[Bob4x4]

Some police agencies do have recording black boxes... ... ... ... Dodge at this time only has the regular gamut of controllers. Although they do store a pretty good chunk of info especially freeze frame data



Bob

 

[Jeepstang]

reply

That may be all they use it for now but that data has the ability to be easily abused. Sure there are lots of ways we are watched, that doesn't bother you at all? Are you ALWAYS perfectly law abiding? Maybe they decide to start issueing speeding tickets based on this info? Maybe a lot of scary consequences. I don't want to come off all paranoid but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to implement data collection like this under innocent auspecies and later turn around and change the rules on us. Just another bad precedent in my mind. I am very scared about the data government has access too, have you seen our Presidential choices this year? Do you think you can truely trust any of them?

Actually I can’t stand the government and all their bs laws and rules

I can’t stand Bush I think he is an idiot and to be honest I really have not paid much attention to what is going on with the election at all. If Bush is gone that is enough to make me happy. But I still don’t care for the governments. Yes it used to bother me that we are being watched and monitored but in this case it can be your best defense If needed. There must be several cameras per mile in my area

Do I always abide by the laws? I try to but I have not been an angel all my life either.

One of the people who works for me was telling us a story that at the dealership he works at and I may screw this up but what he said was they had a car that was involved in an accident and someone may have died

I think the owner of the vehicle was saying the car was not safe and that was why it was involved in an accident

It may have been a car that the dealer worked on or something that was faulty when new

The outcome of it was the representatives and lawyers all got involved and found the driver of the car was lying and he was at fault. When the car was there no employee of the dealership was allowed to touch it. They also never told anyone anything at the dealership after they retrieved the data.

Vehicle manufactures pay lawyers big money to deal with issues like this

I have been in 2 accidents in the past 15 years 1 involved a drunk fireman and the other involved an off duty policeman

Both cased neither drivers were found to be at fault even though they both ran red lights and witness said I was not at fault both times which in my opinion was them protecting people who serve the community if it was any Joe blow there would always be a driver at fault. Now if I were to have been killed and a no fault was given by the insurance companies and my family was left without anything your damn right I would like them to check my data on my vehicle!