[elegant]

Whoops, someone forget to protect vehicle occupants' privacy when the PDR is set into Valet mode. Valet mode contains a great feature, to keep track of what is going on in and around your car when a valet or friend or whoever is driving your car. But it appears that a key privacy provision, perhaps the microphone recording internal vehicle voices, is occurring when one sets the PDR in valet mode. Hence, dealers are now required to strictly warn each and every 2015 purchaser of a StingRay with PDR, that their voices could be being recorded without their knowing that, a major privacy invasion mistake.

GM is rectifying that in approximately the next month, but in the interim forewarning all its purchasers of StingRay with PDR. Thank you Jagamarajan for getting a copy of the following urgent notice and sharing with us all!

Attention: General Manager, Service Advisor, Service Manager, Parts and Service Director, Parts Manager, New Vehicle Sales Manager, and Warranty Administrator!

This notice is being sent to you regarding 2015 model year Corvettes equipped with the Performance Data Recorder (UQT).

The Performance Data Recorder (UQT) in these vehicles, when used in Valet Mode, allows a customer to record the driving of their Corvette when the vehicle is not in their control. In Valet Mode, the PDR will also record activity and conversations that take place in the vehicle.

To help our customers use the Performance Data Recorder (UQT) consistent with legal requirements that pertain to audio recording devices, we will be requiring a very important update to the system of each affected vehicle in the near future. We expect that the update will be available early next month. At that time, we will provide details about the update and let you know what steps you need to take, if any, to complete the update for vehicles in your inventory.

In the meantime, you must advise any customers who take delivery of an impacted vehicle that they should refrain from using the Valet Mode until the update takes place. If they do use the Valet Mode, they should (i) notify any occupants of the vehicle that they will be recorded while in the vehicle, and (ii) obtain their consent to this recording. It is very important that you explain this to each customer at the time of delivery.

Attached is a copy of a written communication for you to provide to customers to accomplish this notice. We are sending the same communication to customers who have already taken delivery of a Corvette vehicle equipped with PDR.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation in conveying this important information to your customers.

****

Thanks Jag!

 

[rdslon01]

Oh, that is unfortunately correct. I had not even thought of that, but I am aware that there is a foolish California law which prohibits recording a conversation unless EVERY party gives express consent BEFORE the recording begins. I have run into a few situations where this law presented itself as a slight inconvenience (proof that consent was given is insufficient on the recording itself, because the recording cannot begin until after consent is given, but if the consent is given a-priori, there is no proof that consent was given unless it is reiterated [but the risk is that after the recording starts, they claim they never said okay before, and then you have recorded something that can cause a lawsuit against yourself] or written [inconvenient for two people talking on the phone]).

But the idea that a valet has such protected rights that you cannot record his words while he is in your car is over the top, but that is what the law here implies.

This law is in severe need of being rewritten...

 

[mjw930]

So, I'm guessing police body cams aren't coming to Cali anytime soon.

 

[elegant]

Perhaps it is not just in Valet mode that it is recording voice conversations in the car, that voice recording might be happening, retrievable in all modes...

 

[jsvette]

Perhaps a simple solution would be to have a laminated card you attach to your fob when you leave the car with a valet saying something like "This car is set up to record both video and audio of its movement. By turning this car on you acknowledge you have read and understand this and further consent to your actions being recorded."

 

[TNSQUIRE]

So, I'm guessing police body cams aren't coming to Cali anytime soon.

Police body cams are being used in CA but the law allows a law enforcement exemption. The police do not need consent to record as long as it is part of a law enforcement function.

 

[mjw930]

Police body cams are being used in CA but the law allows a law enforcement exemption. The police do not need consent to record as long as it is part of a law enforcement function.

So, I'm guessing Google Glass is a massive gray area.

Sorry, but the hair on my back bristles when I see "Law Enforcement Exemptions" But, I disagree with the CA privacy laws regarding recording as they are basically unenforceable but we digress.

 

[smehat]

Perhaps it is not just in Valet mode that it is recording voice conversations in the car, that voice recording might be happening, retrievable in all modes...

Voice recording is part of PDR recording. So my guess is that it does happen only if you are using the PDR (like activating the valet mode to record what the valet does with your car). Except the legal Valet issue, I find out this is pretty great to have voice recording, as you can hear the engine, and also any conversation you may have with the instructor. Actually it would be awesome to be able to plug in the system the jack connector of the communication radio when the instructor is not in the car. Very helpful when you playback your session.

 

[rdslon01]

Perhaps it is not just in Valet mode that it is recording voice conversations in the car, that voice recording might be happening, retrievable in all modes...

That is an excellent point, John! Technically, if any passenger got in the car with you, and you did not ask for permission to use the PDR and explain what it would do, then you are breaking the law in California since it will record any voice in the cabin of the car.

The penalty can include 1 year of jail time.

 

[rdslon01]

Police body cams are being used in CA but the law allows a law enforcement exemption. The police do not need consent to record as long as it is part of a law enforcement function.

I just recently re-read the text of the laws. What you have written may not necessarily be true unless it is being done in public where someone could expect their conversation to not be private anyway, or there is a hostage or barricade situation, or by court order.

 

[rdslon01]

So, I'm guessing Google Glass is a massive gray area.

Sorry, but the hair on my back bristles when I see "Law Enforcement Exemptions" But, I disagree with the CA privacy laws regarding recording as they are basically unenforceable but we digress.

I agree.

However, Law Enforcement does not have a blank check in this area. The laws are actually not unrealistic here. I just checked.

 

[TNSQUIRE]

I just recently re-read the text of the laws. What you have written may not necessarily be true unless it is being done in public where someone could expect their conversation to not be private anyway, or there is a hostage or barricade situation, or by court order.

Actually we record conversations every day in interview rooms, police cars and over the phone without the persons knowledge and without city orders. There is no expectation of privacy in any of those circumstances. Completely legal.

 

[rdslon01]

Actually we record conversations every day in interview rooms, police cars and over the phone without the persons knowledge and without city orders. There is no expectation of privacy in any of those circumstances. Completely legal.

If you mean over the phone where the person called Law Enforcement, that is allowable. For the other direction, it is against the law, and I do hope you are not doing that!

If the interview room is a public place, that is allowable. However, if the occupant expects that room to be private and is having a conversation with someone like an attorney or religious figure, you are breaking the law to record that.

 

[TNSQUIRE]

This thread had gone off course. I'm out

 

[elegant]

Good point, for we are not a political forum. The original post was/is important information for current PDR and soon-upcoming owners, to inform those who were unaware, and to let those folks know there is going to be a software update in about a month.

For all, please read this SRF rule:

"3. No Disccussion of Politics and/or Religion will be allowed on StingrayForums.com. If you wish to discuss Politics and/or Religion please go to US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum."

Thread closed.