U.S.BONK-O-METER
GM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data
The settlement resolves a complaint from 36 attorneys general and requires GM to get express consent before collecting driving or location data; it also covers a quietly unenrolled 370,000.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Brock Thunderson on The Bonk-o-MeterPublished
Photo: Tyler · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBNWatch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Brock Thunderson on this story, from The Bonk-o-Meter at 4:16 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Verge's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by The Verge: “GM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data”, with reporting from Colorado Attorney General and Oregon Department of Justice.
- Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 4:16 PM ET on The Bonk-o-Meter, by Dr. Nina Byte and Brock Thunderson.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The VergeGM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data
- Colorado Attorney GeneralGeneral Motors will pay $220M in nationwide settlement for illegally sharing drivers' private data, Weiser announces - Colorado Attorney General October 29, 2026 · facts used on air
- Oregon Department of JusticeAttorney General Rayfield Leads States in $220M Settlement With GM Over Sale of Drivers’ Private Data - Oregon Department of Justice : Media October 29, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's 4:15 Eastern, this is The Bonk-o-Meter, where we check the claim and the meter decides.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentToday's claim, from the OnStar app: you are not enrolled in Smart Driver.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistAnd that's untrue for over 370,000 drivers, according to the Colorado attorney general. They were enrolled the whole time.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentGeneral Motors is paying two hundred twenty million dollars to settle claims from thirty-six attorneys general that it sold driver and location data to brokers.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAnd when it found the app's mistake, it quietly unenrolled those drivers without telling them.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistQuietly. I'd like a forecast like that. Sunny, then no one tells me about the hurricane.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentTheir data was left with brokers and insurers, Brock. Unenrolling probably stops future collection. It does not call anything back.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistFixed it. Sure. The door's closed. Shame about the house.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOregon's attorney general said, quote, people bought a car, not a tracking device. Rating: Full Bonkers.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistOver 370,000 people got told the truth by accident, and it's the only thing GM didn't sell. Back same time tomorrow.
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Photo: U.S. Department of Health and Human · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Adrian Pingstone · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Thursday, October 29, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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