Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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People Are Slowly Realizing Their Auto Insurance Rates Are Skyrocketing Because Their Car Is Covertly Spying On Them (www.techdirt.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] fart_pickle 6 points 5 months ago (5 children)

Here's a "funny" story. Back in the day I was working (IT) for insurance companies. I've pitched an idea to one of the larges companies about a device connected to an OBD port to track a driver's habits and adjust premiums based on that. I was turned down, but I heard from an unofficial source that the company was already testing such a device. That was 15 years ago.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 months ago (1 children)

All your anecdote tells me is that you have questionable ethics.

[+] fart_pickle -12 points 5 months ago (2 children)

It's rude to judge a person on the basis of a vague description of an idea. My idea was to collect the driver's data (harsh breaking, rapid acceleration, previous history, etc.) and set the premiums accordingly. Someone who drove carefully would pay less and someone who drove recklessly would pay more. Keep in mind, this was back when Google was still a "don't be evil" company and it was before the days of surveillance capitalism.

[–] Glytch 18 points 5 months ago

Keep in mind, this was back when Google was still a "don't be evil" company and it was before the days of surveillance capitalism.

So you were an innovator in surveillance capitalism. I think that might be why the person you replied to said you have questionable ethics. I share this opinion.

[–] AngryCommieKender 2 points 5 months ago

If Google existed, surveillance capitalism did as well. It's what they were founded on, they just had good PR back then

[–] azenyr 12 points 5 months ago

So you were the "horse armor DLC" of car insurance companies. Congratulations

[–] Anticorp 11 points 5 months ago

I hope you step in water while wearing socks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Here’s a “funny” story. Back in the day I was working (IT) for insurance companies. I’ve pitched an idea to one of the larges companies about a device connected to an OBD port to track a driver’s habits and adjust premiums based on that. I was turned down, but I heard from an unofficial source that the company was already testing such a device. That was 15 years ago.

Privacy regulations? They don't know how to handle all the data? They realized they'd have to triple rates based on the actual data they were receiving?

[–] MadBigote 1 points 5 months ago

Seat have me a OBD device as a "gift" for my new vehicle back in 2021, and supervised me installing their app. The car has an option to opt out of sending data to SEAT via my phone too. Totally not sketchy.