FTC bans GM from sharing driving data to settle claims that the automaker sold data without consent

General Motors will be banned for five years from disclosing data that it collects from drivers to consumer reporting agencies as part of a settlement with the government to resolve claims that the automaker shared such data without consumers’ permission. GM and subsidiary OnStar, which operates a roadside assistance service, will also be banned from sharing drivers' precise geolocation and other data, and they will be required to provide more transparency and choice over data linked to how consumers use their vehicles, according to a proposed order released by the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that Detroit-based GM used a misleading enrollment process to get consumers to sign up for OnStar's services and its Smart Driver feature, which the automaker touted as a tool to help drivers assess their driving habits.