this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2023
219 points (97.0% liked)

Privacy

31837 readers
175 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/13854229

A mum had to take action to prove not every road in Wales has a 20mph speed limit after an insurance firm voided her son's insurance policy.

Welsh television presenter Jess Davies explained that her younger brother saw his car insurance voided as a result of the vehicle's black box recording his speed and seemingly deciding he was constantly exceeding the speed limit. It meant their mother had to take some unusual steps to show the firm that not every road in Wales now had a 20mph speed limit.

top 21 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 218 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Almost like having companies track everything you do is not a good idea and easily raises many false flags that are hard to correct.

[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What do you mean? Just because that set themselves up with a one click “accept all terms” agreement that gives them the ability to be judge jury and executioner? How could that be bad?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Contrary to popular belief you cannot just make new rules as you like in terms of service. There are boundaries what is okay and what isn't. But you still should be careful with them of course.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

contrary to popular belief, people and corporations regularly break boundaries and laws to see what they can get away with.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh for sure. And then there sometimes are lawsuits and settlements and things have to be paid back. But overall it's rarely a problem for the companies and a major hassle for everyone else involved.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

so in fact, you basically can make new rules as you like in terms of service. There are boundaries what is okay and what isn't, but companies try to break those boundaries time and time again.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

They can certainly try. But so far breaking those boundaries hasn't moved the boundaries as far as I know.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year ago (8 children)

black box what?? we don't have such nonsense here. why is there a black box in a car? is it a cheaper insurance thing or a government thing? every car now needs one?

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago

Do know the diagnostic port in your car they plug into if your check engine comes on? It can read your car systems in real time as well, and insurance companies will offer you a discount for "good driving" if you keep their dongle plugged in so it can send all your car info back to them.

It can go both ways though, hence the article.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

If "here" is the US, then yeah you do. There are insurers in UK, US and I believe most of western Europe who offer "discounted" insurance in return for fitting a tracking, logging device to the car.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

We do have them in the US but they are optional for cheaper rates for insurance.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The box is in your car whether or not you select Telemetry Insurance. Unless your car was built pre 2005ish. It varies by manufacturer.

The data gets used after an accident. You tell them you weren’t speeding, but they’ll know exactly how fast you were going and how you maneuvered.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

That's a different box. Insurance companies don't have access to that black box unless the car has an accident. But they might give you another box to plug in if you want a discount.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Correct, and to add to that, they're not allowed to use it in reverse to raise rates on you, only discounts.

So much for all the EU consumer friendliness!

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

It's usually younger drivers (17-20) that would have it. It used to be so you could get your insurance cheaper, but companies being companies has meant that a lot won't even insure younger drivers without it now, and charge double what they used to.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

Insurance companies will install them for cheaper insurance. With car insurance being incredibly high for young drivers, £1000+ a year, most people effectively have no choice for the first few years.

Eventually you’ll get enough years “no claims bonus” to get decent insurance offers without a box.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Here's how it works in the US, not sure about UK.

Most car insurance companies have an optional monitoring system. If you opt in, you'll be given a device to place in your car. This device sends data about your driving habits and location data to the insurance company. The company's algorithm rates how safely you're driving and gives you a discount based on that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Telemetry Insurance. That part is up to the consumer, but the boxes exist in all cars now. They are usually reviewed after accidents to check the environmental conditions, like speed/braking, steering etc. Manufacturers have had to comply since the mid 2000’s and some took until the mid teens.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Unfortunately for a lot of new drivers in the uk it’s basically mandatory because non black box insurance is so damn expensive for young drivers now.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

ty u all for the info. now i know 👍

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

All cars have had them for a long time now, but Insurance companies don't have access to them, at least not in the US, only dealers do. They're probably actually referring to the OBD things that (may) offer a discount to people.