News

GM agrees to pay $12.75M in California driver privacy settlement

Published

5 months ago

May 9, 2026

General Motors has reached a privacy-related settlement with a group of law enforcement agencies led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Back in 2024, The New York Times reported that automakers including GM were sharing information about their customers’ driving behavior with insurance companies, and that some customers were concerned that their insurance rates had gone up as a result.

The settlement announcement from Bonta’s office similarly alleges that GM sold “the names, contact information, geolocation data, and driving behavior data of hundreds of thousands of Californians” to Verisk Analytics and LexisNexis Risk Solutions, which are both data brokers. Bonta’s office further alleges that this data was collected through GM’s OnStar program, and that the company made roughly $20 million from data sales.

However, Bonta’s office also said the data did not lead to increased insurance prices in California, “likely because under California’s insurance laws, insurers are prohibited from using driving data to set insurance rates.”

As part of the settlement, GM has agreed to pay $12.75 million in civil penalties and to stop selling driving data to any consumer reporting agencies for five years, Bonta’s office said. GM has also agreed to delete any driver data that it still retains within 180 days (unless it obtains consent from customers), and to request that Lexis and Verisk delete that data.

“General Motors sold the data of California drivers without their knowledge or consent and despite numerous statements reassuring drivers that it would not do so,” Bonta said in a statement, adding that the settlement “requires General Motors to abandon these illegal practices and underscores the importance of the data minimization in California’s privacy law — companies can’t just hold on to data and use it later for another purpose.”

GM had previously settled with the Federal Trade Commission over its data sales, with a final order banning General Motors and OnStar from selling certain data with consumer reporting agencies.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA
|
October 13-15, 2026

GM told Reuters that the settlement “addresses Smart Driver, a product we discontinued in 2024, and reinforces steps we’ve taken to strengthen our privacy practices.”

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Related Topics:12.75M agrees California Driver pay privacy settlement

Up Next

So you’ve heard these AI terms and nodded along; let’s fix that

Don't Miss

Unity Schools Alumni Raise Concerns Over Proposed Land Concession

Click to comment

News

Ekiti council polls: Court dismisses ADC suit against EKSIEC

Published

48 minutes ago

October 17, 2026

PlateauReports

The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has dismissed a suit filed by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, challenging the guidelines for the December 12, 2026, local government and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, elections.

The suit was instituted against the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, EKSIEC, and its Chairman, Justice Cornelius Ilori Akintayo, rtd, seeking to invalidate the guidelines issued for the conduct of the forthcoming elections.

A statement issued by EKSIEC Information Commissioner, Soji Oloketuyi, on behalf of the commission’s chairman, said the case was initially filed at the Federal High Court, which subsequently transferred it to the State High Court for adjudication.

Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice S.B.J. Bamise dismissed the action in a 76-page judgment, describing the plaintiffs as “meddlesome interlopers” who, according to the court, sought to truncate the forthcoming local government elections.

The court also awarded costs of N100,000 in favour of EKSIEC and the other defendant in the suit, marking a legal development in the commission’s preparations for the December 12 elections.

The commission said the judgment followed the ADC’s challenge to the electoral guidelines, as preparations continue for the conduct of the 2026 local government and LCDAs elections across Ekiti State.

Ekiti council polls: Court dismisses ADC suit against EKSIEC

News

28 kidnap victims rescued in Katsina, Zamfara, suspected pipeline vandals arrested

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2026

PlateauReports

The Nigerian Army troops have rescued 28 kidnap victims in Katsina and Zamfara states.

The troops arrested three suspected pipeline vandals in Rivers State and kiled two suspected criminals in Bauchi State.

This is contained in an operational report detailing military activities across several theatres between Thursday and Friday, released in Abuja on Saturday.

The report said that troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 27 victims kidnapped by suspected terrorists in Gamji community, Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, at about 12:25 a:m., on Friday.

It said the rescued victims were handed over to the community leader, Falalu Suleiman, for further action.

The report noted that troops responding to an attack on farmers in Dutsen Maru community, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, forced the attackers to flee and abandon one kidnap victim.

According to the report, troops rescued the victim and recovered three motorcycles and a donkey.

It further said that in Rivers State, troops of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, arrested three suspects over an alleged vandalisation and removal of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) along the Bonny export line serving the Port Harcourt refinery.

“The operation took place at Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area, on Thursday.

“The troops recovered 210 pieces of vandalised pipes, 12 boats, five motorcycles, six batteries, a generator, a fire extinguisher and two heavy-duty metal-cutting machines,” it said.

The report noted that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspected buyer.

It also said that troops of Operation MESA, acting on intelligence about ransom payment to kidnappers, engaged and neutralised two suspected criminals in the Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to the report, troops also arrested a herder and his son over an alleged killing in Jimpi village, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area in separate operation.

The report further said that troops of Operation Enduring Peace recovered the body of a civilian kidnapped on October 14 in Gwol-Hoss community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“The decomposing body was discovered along the Gwol-Hoss-Makera Road on Friday and evacuated by family members for burial,” it said.

The report said that troops responding to an attack on illegal miners at Makale mining site in the Bokkos Local Government Area also found two bodies, while the assailants fled on sighting the troops.

According to the report, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of both incidents.

It added that troops of the 17 Brigade engaged armed terrorists on motorcycles in Kurba village, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina state, forcing them to abandon one motorcycle.

It added, “The operations form part of ongoing efforts to rescue abducted persons, combat violent crime, protect critical infrastructure and strengthen security across the country.”

(NAN)