General Motors (GM) has agreed to pay $12.75 million to settle allegations that it illegally sold the location and driving data of hundreds of thousands of Californians without their knowledge or consent, according to statements by California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday.
Key Takeaways
General Motors will pay $12.75 million to settle claims it illegally sold California drivers' location and driving data without consent. The settlement includes penalties and restrictions on GM’s use of consumer data.
- GM agreed to pay $12.75M for selling driver data from 2020-2024
- Data included names, contact info, geolocation, and driving behavior details
- Settlement bars GM from selling such data for five years
- California law prohibits insurers from using this data to set rates
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Sold | 1 Difference | Majority reports broader categories; Los Angeles Times specifies additional details | ▼ |
| Settlement Amount | Broad Agreement | $12.75 million paid by GM for selling driver data | |
| Time Period Of Data Sales | Broad Agreement | $12.75 million paid by GM for selling driver data from 2020 to 2024 |
Data Sold
▼Majority reports broader categories; Los Angeles Times specifies additional details
Settlement Amount
Broad Agreement$12.75 million paid by GM for selling driver data
Time Period Of Data Sales
Broad Agreement$12.75 million paid by GM for selling driver data from 2020 to 2024
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The settlement, which is subject to court approval, includes civil penalties and a five-year ban on GM selling personal data collected through its OnStar service. The automaker reportedly made approximately $20 million nationwide from these sales between 2016 and 2024. According to Reuters, the settlement also restricts GM's use of consumer driving data and includes a five-year ban on such data being sold to brokers.
The investigation, conducted in conjunction with several district attorneys across California, found that GM had sold names, contact information, geolocation data, and driving-behavior data to Verisk Analytics Inc. and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. This data was collected through OnStar's services, which provide directions and emergency assistance.
GM stated the settlement addresses its discontinued Smart Driver product and reinforces steps taken to strengthen privacy practices. The company committed to being transparent about data collection and usage. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had previously criticized GM’s behavior as an 'egregious betrayal of consumers’ trust'. In January 2025, the FTC barred GM from disclosing or selling sensitive vehicle geolocation and driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies for five years.
California's Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that modern cars are 'rolling data-collection machines' and stressed the importance of consumers knowing what data is collected, how it is used, and their opt-out rights. The settlement marks the largest penalty under California’s Consumer Privacy Act to date.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.