OnStar

Fact: OnStar provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, hands free calling, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States and Canada. 

At first glance, this service appears to be something that could be very useful to various driver groups and classes.

-The forgetful driver - who is constantly locking their keys in the vehicle.
-The mechanically challenged driver � who is constantly forgetting how to start their vehicle.
-The hand-eye coordinationally challenged driver � who is constantly running their car off the road and crashing into things.
-The unaware of their surroundings driver - who is constantly having their car stolen.

But how much privacy and freedom are we willing to give up in order to compensate for these issues?

Apart from the fact that Onstar always knows your vehicle�s location, they also have control over your vehicle�s normal functions. Onstar is currently running a commercial showing how they remotely controlled a stolen SUV and forced it to pull over by activating the brakes and cutting the engine. So what happens if the system malfunctions or someone on the remote end pushes the wrong button? 

I�m sitting in my brand new Onstar enabled SUV cruising down an empty street. Suddenly my car cuts off and its brake bring me to a dead stop without my pushing the brake pedal. The speaker in my dashboard crackles to life as a voice says �Stewart C. Adams, you have been selected as an accidental death candidate.  Rest in peace.� The speaker shuts off and suddenly I feel the whole car move - as the realization hits me that I am positioned on a draw bridge over a deep river.  I reach over to open the door but it is locked and the control button is unresponsive, as is the window control.  I beat on the window as hard as I can but it is too strong.  I now feel the lightness in my stomach like riding a rollercoaster as the SUV plummets into the icy water.  No one can hear my screams for help and the horn and headlights aren�t working as I try to get a signal out. I am now dead.  All the vehicle�s functions have been re-enabled and the investigation finds no evidence of my carefully executed murder.

Sure, it sounds like something out of a Harrison Ford film�until you consider that Onstar would actually have such capabilities if they so chose to use them for that purpose.  But then you might say �But they�re a private company, they aren�t going to kill off their customers.� A logical idea�until you remember that Onstar is a subsidiary company of General Motors who�s majority share holding is now owned by the United States Government.

OnStar is watching you�