General Motors to pay $220 million to settle multistate data‑privacy case
General Motors agreed to a $220 million settlement with a coalition of 36 state attorneys general over allegations that its Smart Driver program collected and sold drivers’ location and behavior data without consent. The deal, announced in November 2026, requires GM to obtain clear, written permission from owners before gathering or sharing such information and to establish a comprehensive data‑privacy program. The settlement allocates $2,508,188 to Alaska, more than $12 million to New York, and the remainder to the other participating states. GM did not admit wrongdoing and consumers will not receive restitution.
Why it matters
The settlement obligates GM to change its data‑collection practices, which may increase compliance costs and affect future revenue from data licensing. States receive sizable cash payments, while drivers do not obtain direct compensation, leaving potential class‑action exposure.
Key facts
- 1GM will pay a total of $220 million to settle the investigation. alaska-native-news.com
- 2Alaska’s share of the settlement is $2,508,188. alaska-native-news.com
- 3New York will receive $12,054,341. hudsonvalleypress.com
- 4The settlement covers data collected from 2016 to 2024 through GM’s Smart Driver program. cbtnews.com
- 5GM must obtain explicit, written consent from consumers before collecting or disclosing driving and location data. hudsonvalleypress.com
- 6GM must implement a data‑privacy program, including internal and third‑party assessments and dealership‑level training. alaska-native-news.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 3 of 3 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.