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General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle allegations that it collected drivers' data without proper consent and sold it to data brokers. A coalition of 35 states and the District of Columbia brought the case, the Washington attorney general's office said on Thursday. Investigators said GM sold location, speed, and seatbelt data from its Smart Driver program to brokers, which supplied insurers that could use it to set premiums. GM also incentivised dealerships to enrol customers, and its OnStar app wrongly told more than 370,000 drivers they were not enrolled. GM also agreed to limit the data it collects, better protect personal information, and set up a data privacy program. California reached a separate $12.75 million settlement in May, and a Texas case continues.

GM to pay $220 million over claims it sold driving habits data. General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims that it sold driver and location data to brokers. A coalition of 36 state attorneys general brought the complaint, first reported by Reuters. The settlement covers GM's now-discontinued Smart Driver program. That feature tracked acceleration, braking and trip length, then allegedly passed the results to data brokers. Insurance companies could buy the data and raise premiums. States also accused GM of enrolling drivers without telling them. Customers were never clearly informed that the program existed or that their cars were collecting information. RECOMMENDED READ The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and the Greatest Dilemma of Its Age Mustafa Suleyman The definitive book on where AI is heading - written by one of the field founders. The deal requires more than money. GM must limit the driving data it collects going forward. It also has to obtain "express consent" from drivers before gathering their information at all. GM says the program ended two years ago. "This agreement addresses Smart Driver, a product we ended in 2024, and reinforces steps we've taken to strengthen our privacy practices," spokesperson Charlotte McCoy told The Verge. She argued that connected vehicle data still delivers real value. "Safer, more helpful and personalized experiences are enabled by connected vehicle data," McCoy said, adding that GM wants to be clear about how information is used and protected. The settlement follows an earlier California case. GM agreed to pay $12.75 million there just months ago over similar allegations about selling driver data to insurers. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-led the multistate effort. New York, Florida, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania joined, along with many other states. Rayfield summed up the states' position bluntly. "People bought a car, not a tracking device," he said. Regulators argue that connected cars turned everyday driving into a steady stream of sellable records. The case fits a wider pattern. New Mexico's $25 billion ruling against Meta showed states will pursue huge privacy penalties, while Google's expanded ad targeting across Gmail and Photos raised the same consent questions. For drivers, the practical lesson is simple. Modern vehicles collect far more than most owners realize, and the settings that control it are buried. Checking those menus is now part of owning a connected car. Read the full report at The Verge. The Netherlands, for internationals One email a week: the week's news for internationals in the Netherlands, new practical guides and what changed in the cities. No spam, unsubscribe any time. Ramo is the editorial voice of Mylistingo - an AI and technology news platform based in The Hague, Netherlands. Covering artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and the future of technology, Ramo delivers accurate, accessible reporting for both general audiences and industry professionals. Every article is fact-checked and written to meet Mylistingo's strict no-fabrication editorial standards.

The US and Canada are working on a deal to ease US tariffs on Canadian steel and autos, Reuters reported on Monday. Steel faces tariffs of up to 50% and autos 25%. Nothing is signed, and US sources said Washington wants more concessions. A deal would cut a recurring cost for Ford and General Motors (GM). Ford's net tariff cost was about $2 billion in 2025; GM expects $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion of gross tariff costs in 2026. It could also head off a rise to 50% on Canadian steel and autos set for January 1, 2027. Ford reports third-quarter results today. Investors will watch whether it holds its $10 billion to $11 billion adjusted EBIT guidance.