The folks at InfoPackets alerted me (and thousands more, of course) to this:
| GM On Board with Radical OnStar Plan
In the world of computer technology, measures that put the brakes on a user without his or her permission are often tossed into the hated spyware heap. However, when it happens to a car thief, it’s hard not to be a supporter. Confused? Granted, the idea is a strange one. For years OnStar has been offering drivers directions, help in emergencies, and saving them embarassment after keys are locked in a vehicle. However, its latest idea, to gradually decrease the speed of a stolen vehicle, is getting some very positive reviews from everyone but the thieves themselves. OnStar calls the initiative Stolen Vehicle Slowdown (simple enough), and it works by transmitting a signal from the company’s Detroit headquarters to a car’s powertrain system. That signal tells the vehicle to reduce its flow of gasoline, ever so slowly (and carefully), cutting the speed of a thief’s new ride. Any police in pursuit will obviously have a much easier time apprehending the suspect. […] Just in case you’re wondering, OnStar promises the service will only be used on stolen vehicles. “Safeguards will be in place to ensure that the correct vehicle is slowed down.” That’s reassuring. |
To the closing line, “Not really!”
So OnStar, which often leads to OnStart, will implement something that could go by OnStop.
I like the benign implementations of the OnStar technologies.
I don’t like the misuse and abuse waiting to happen.
This is exactly why I don’t, and won’t own a car with onstar or any other “tracking” device. This is why I don’t own a handled GPS. This is why, , when it is time to disappear the first thing I ditch is my cell phone… 😉 Hey people…here is a novel idea… learn how to read a map and use a compass! 😉