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Black boxes in cars raise privacy concerns

Anchorage Daily News -- By JOAN LOWY — Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Many motorists don't know it, but it's likely that every time they get behind the wheel, there's a snitch along for the ride.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday proposed long-delayed regulations requiring auto manufacturers to include event data recorders - better known as "black boxes" - in all new cars and light trucks beginning Sept. 1, 2014. But the agency is behind the curve. Automakers have been quietly tucking the devices, which automatically record the actions of drivers and the responses of their vehicles in a continuous information loop, into most new cars for years.

When a car is involved in a crash or when its airbags deploy, inputs from the vehicle's sensors during the 5 to 10 seconds before impact are

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Submitted Dec 09, 2012 By: Nitewolf

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,580 Points:1,605,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 12, 2012 5:04:23 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse just like we found ways to "jail break" phones, we outta "crack" those boxes if they become mandatory. Too much Big Brother for me...
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,800 Points:637,525 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 3:41:33 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse Guess we need to go buy older vehicles before they started putting them in!
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,630 Points:1,113,675 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 2:47:04 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse some are more equal than others.
UncleBill Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:18,070 Points:3,533,915 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 9:17:05 AM Ignore UncleBill Report Abuse More info here'
ropegun11 Veteran Author Illinois Posts:427 Points:441,415 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 2:30:44 AM Ignore ropegun11 Report Abuse ...Since this article made me wonder if my own vehicle contains an event data recorder, I searched and found a list of Event Data Recorder Equipped Vehicles in the link below: Crashteams: Event Data Recorder Equipped Vehicles
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,058 Points:793,170 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 12:35:32 AM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse And maybe it will be mandatory that you take the black box everywhere you go including your home bathroom. Should be OK if your not breaking the law, right?
GasPasserAB Champion Author Edmonton Posts:25,006 Points:886,125 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2012 12:34:06 AM Ignore GasPasserAB Report Abuse Not my vehicle
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,876 Points:768,270 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:57:40 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse big brother
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,876 Points:768,270 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:57:29 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse They've been in use for years!
cwashi3324 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,786 Points:570,265 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:16:25 PM Ignore cwashi3324 Report Abuse They've been in cars and trucks for many years. My '96 Plymouth Breeze had one, as did my 2003 Blazer and 2006 Chev Trailblazer. If you go to the NHTSA.gov website, they can tell you exactly where the box is located in your vehicle. That's how I found out, when looking up recalls on my Plymouth.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:15:12 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse I hope you enjoy driving 1970s vintage Detroit iron, @veemotors. Anything newer than that has electronics built in.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:12:09 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Your freedom ends at my car bumper, @clermont40miles. When anyone causes a fatal accident, I hope the cops use the data from their car to send them to jail. And if you're speeding or driving recklessly and cause a crash, the insurance company should use that data to deny your claim. They're not in the business of covering for lawbreakers.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,629 Points:2,355,745 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:09:41 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse I am guessing it is the same with those chips some insurance companies want you to plug in for a discount.
cheaper0ON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:963 Points:394,055 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:06:00 PM Ignore cheaper0ON Report Abuse Ok.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,830 Points:1,608,250 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:05:33 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse I’ve been trying to find out if our car has an EDR ever since this story broke a few days ago. I went thru 5 pages of a Google search without success. Maybe GB can help with some research and put it in a blog post. Subaru Forester, 2010; pretty new car, probably has the damn thing.
alaric76 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:16,511 Points:3,029,585 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:04:17 PM Ignore alaric76 Report Abuse putting it mildly. This is serious!
UpSol7 Champion Author Augusta Posts:1,628 Points:753,900 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:02:57 PM Ignore UpSol7 Report Abuse 5 to 10 seconds, hardly big brother
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,448 Points:658,200 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:02:09 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse "1984" in 2012
MrPony Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:415 Points:390,040 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 11:00:24 PM Ignore MrPony Report Abuse Not in my car!!!!!
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,449 Points:1,707,460 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:56:35 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse big brother spying on us again
gilfarm Champion Author Alabama Posts:6,776 Points:1,944,840 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:55:24 PM Ignore gilfarm Report Abuse To much Government!
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,543 Points:1,767,935 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:55:18 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse Privacy is an old fashioned notion. 1984 Orwellian world of Obamabots makes that a fantasy. Another avenue of controlling us evil American citizens. Make that American subjects to King BHO.
Marson Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,922 Points:2,073,185 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:54:30 PM Ignore Marson Report Abuse Interesting information, sounds like privacy vs. Big Brother.
TTQuattro Rookie Author Indiana Posts:72 Points:45,060 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:51:34 PM Ignore TTQuattro Report Abuse not in my car!!!
VikingWoman Champion Author Washington Posts:1,244 Points:247,850 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:51:15 PM Ignore VikingWoman Report Abuse Just be sure the black boxes are in the cars the dogs are driving. lol A form of these black boxes have been in rental cars for years so when you told the rental company you weren't driving it out of state and you did you got busted. We all should have known it was a matter of time before they would be in all cars. They could be very useful if they used them to break up the drug cartels and solve crimes.
rf6480 Champion Author Miami Posts:1,529 Points:544,430 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:50:46 PM Ignore rf6480 Report Abuse no black box, no dealer or manufacture installed GPS tracking device [Edited by: rf6480 at 12/9/2012 11:52:06 PM EST]
Chris46 Champion Author Dayton Posts:23,612 Points:2,077,340 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:47:56 PM Ignore Chris46 Report Abuse How about school buses? Have you seen the way some of these people drive? I wouldn't trust my child on one!
goldisc Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:10,198 Points:2,208,755 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:47:14 PM Ignore goldisc Report Abuse Also having a Bluetooth sensor that detects DRIVER cell phone usage...
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,208 Points:868,310 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:46:22 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse I want to keep government and insurance companies out of my car.
Bezalel Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:12,078 Points:2,286,795 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:45:50 PM Ignore Bezalel Report Abuse How about the people who fail to yield, go around, brake, and turn, etc. that CAUSE someone else to have an accident?
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,043 Points:1,727,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:45:17 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse they should
Gas Thirsty Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,863 Points:3,224,690 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:43:57 PM Ignore Gas Thirsty Report Abuse Putting black boxes in public transportation like buses and trains wouldn't be a bad idea.
monarch57 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,619 Points:134,980 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:41:43 PM Ignore monarch57 Report Abuse Big brother is watching.
dcjauburn Champion Author Sacramento Posts:12,405 Points:2,235,590 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:38:29 PM Ignore dcjauburn Report Abuse If you are not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to fear. It could reduce accidents and help explain how some accidents happen. If it makes the roads safer I am all for it.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,460 Points:743,740 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:37:31 PM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse Big Brother strikes again.
DrLyon Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,635 Points:1,208,205 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:34:59 PM Ignore DrLyon Report Abuse Protections on what is recorded and released are needed...
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:501,230 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:29:37 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse Sneaky sneaky I feel a right being stepped on.
BREW9 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:861 Points:2,907,980 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:28:11 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse big bro driving
WillyG Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,528 Points:901,115 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:26:20 PM Ignore WillyG Report Abuse Ya think ?
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,272 Points:1,555,415 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:25:11 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse Nanny Government stay outta my car!
kbierley Champion Author Dayton Posts:10,730 Points:1,415,690 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:25:05 PM Ignore kbierley Report Abuse That is all we need. NOT!
texashoudini Champion Author Austin Posts:2,615 Points:1,092,950 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:22:55 PM Ignore texashoudini Report Abuse I agree.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,285 Points:1,956,405 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:14:34 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Black boxes are in "commuter" jets among others. Our cars for the most part are privately owned.
seahawks Champion Author Washington Posts:3,212 Points:1,960,720 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:13:59 PM Ignore seahawks Report Abuse true statement, more government control!!!
downstream Champion Author Little Rock Posts:1,104 Points:1,388,340 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:12:04 PM Ignore downstream Report Abuse it's called "evidence"
JettaKnight Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,518 Points:2,097,995 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:10:09 PM Ignore JettaKnight Report Abuse kissafrog4: That's exactly what most posters here seemed to miss. It also applies to drunk drivers having to take a breathalyzer. Either that or a blood test at the station (and calculating how much blood alcohol was in your system when pulled-over based upon the standardized rate of alcohol elimination by the body). When public safety is at risk, you have very few rights.
grandamgt1 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,326 Points:1,236,325 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:09:54 PM Ignore grandamgt1 Report Abuse all in favor of the 5 to 10 seconds before a crash, any more recording than that is a huge privacy concern.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,902 Points:1,570,980 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:09:00 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse more big brother
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,279 Points:1,638,805 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:07:23 PM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Don't need!
veemotors All-Star Author Alberta Posts:692 Points:65,545 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Dec 9, 2012 10:07:20 PM Ignore veemotors Report Abuse i wont have a car with all that electronic crap in it. they wont track me down.