EU Parliament Adopts eCall Resolution 212
arisvega writes with news that the European Parliament has pass a resolution in support of eCall, an initiative to install devices in vehicles that automatically contact emergency services in the event of a crash. The resolution calls on the European Condition to make it mandatory for all new cars starting in 2015.
"The in-vehicle eCall system uses 112 emergency call technology to alert the emergency services automatically to the location of serious road accidents. This should save lives and reduce the severity of injuries by enabling qualified and equipped paramedics to get to the scene within the first “golden hour” of the accident, says the resolution. The eCall system could save up to 2,500 lives a year and reduce injury severity by 10 to 15%, it adds."
Re:STUPID (Score:4, Informative)
Every accident that happens in the middle of the day on the freeway results in 20 emergency calls (and the response system is more than adequate to deal with this fact). Accidents that happen on a dark windy road in the dead of night? Not so much.
OnStar is a bug (Score:3, Informative)
They can silently listen in on you. Court filings have shown that this is in fact being done. Merely having the hardware provides this ability; you need not be a subscriber. (thus I refuse to buy a vehicle with OnStar)
Re:OnStar is a bug (Score:4, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnStar#Use_as_surveillance_device [wikipedia.org]
Short version: It's possible in theory, but the design is supposed to guarantee several forms of notification (both visible and audible) if someone is listening in. If you had physical access to the vehicle, you could disable the notifications though. So in crack-pot theory land, it's doable; in reality, it probably hasn't and won't ever happen.
IAAFM (former mechanic), and yes I had heard of this when OnStar was introduced. Now you two play nice :)
Re:OnStar is a bug (Score:5, Informative)
OnStar says it can't be done, yet the FBI was granted a warrant to do exactly that [cnet.com]. On appeal the 9th circuit determined that issuing the warrant was improper. So, who do I believe, the FBI (for whom the information is adverse) and the courts, or OnStar who would obviously like to tell us it isn't possible?
Weighing those sources, I'm more inclined to believe it can be done.
OnStar does admit that they get tracking data even when the call button isn't pressed and that they can do so even if you cancel the service. Bottom line, if you want privacy in your vehicle, remove the OnStar system.
I am also a former mechanic though I stuck to small engines and commercial trucks..