Texas sues General Motors for allegedly selling drivers’ data

Texas filed a lawsuit Tuesday against General Motors (GM), alleging the company unlawfully collected drivers’ data and sold it.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced the legal action Tuesday following an investigation launched in June into several car manufacturers after allegations of collecting drivers’ data surfaced. Paxton said the investigation revealed General Motors “engaged in egregious business practices that violated Texans’ privacy and broke the law.”

“We will hold them accountable,” Paxton said in a statement. “Companies are using invasive technology to violate the rights of our citizens in unthinkable ways. Millions of American drivers wanted to buy a car, not a comprehensive surveillance system that unlawfully records information about every drive they take and sells their data to any company willing to pay for it.”

Paxton’s office said General Motors “used technology installed in most 2015 model year or newer GM vehicles to collect, record, analyze, and transmit highly detailed driving data about each time a driver used their vehicle,” according to the press release.

The office said General Motors sold the data to “several” companies. The complaint alleged General Motors told the companies purchasing the data that their customers “had consented to the collection, use, and sale of their Driving Data.”

The office said the car manufacturer “deceived many of its customers” when it asked them to enroll in its products, including the OnStar Smart Driver. The office alleged customers were told their vehicle’s safety features would be deactivated if they failed to enroll in certain products.

“Unbeknownst to customers, however, by enrolling in GM’s products, they were ‘agreeing’ to General Motors’ collection and sale of their data. Despite lengthy and convoluted disclosures, General Motors never informed its customers of its actual conduct — the systematic collection and sale of their highly detailed driving data,” Paxton’s office said.

A General Motors spokesperson said in statement to The Hill that they are in contact with Paxton’s office.

“We’ve been in discussions with the Attorney General’s office and are reviewing the complaint. We share the desire to protect consumers’ privacy,” a General Motors spokesperson said in a statement. 

Updated at 8:33 p.m. EST.