EU Wants “Communication Box” in New Cars to Track Drivers

Published on March 30th, 2009

Police State!

Let's track some vehicles!

The government is backing a project to install a “communication box” in new cars to track the whereabouts of drivers anywhere in Europe, the Guardian can reveal.

Under the proposals, vehicles will emit a constant “heartbeat” revealing their location, speed and direction of travel. The EU officials behind the plan believe it will significantly reduce road accidents, congestion and carbon emissions. A consortium of manufacturers has indicated that the router device could be installed in all new cars as early as 2013.

However, privacy campaigners warned last night that a European-wide car tracking system would create a system of almost total road surveillance.

22 users responded in " EU Wants “Communication Box” in New Cars to Track Drivers "

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# 1 bill said, on March 30th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

How about that ‘chip’ that M had planted in James Bond’s arm in the last movie? Can’t they do that to everyone? Can’t they track cell phones?

What will happen if the vehicles misbehave? How can they prove who is driving it?

Seems like BS to me.

# 2 GetSmart said, on March 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

One pair wirecutters

# 3 The Pirate said, on March 30th, 2009 at 6:05 pm

I’m sure this type of system would never be abused or used to spy on individuals. Safety, efficiency and reduced global warming are the obvious reasons they want this.

Uh huh. Pure propaganda Goebbels style bullshit. Since I have nothing to hide why do they feel the need to look? Total waste of taxpayer/consumer money for the benefit of the elite few and the control of the masses.

I used to be employed by an engineering firm doing land surveying in Phoenix Az. They had GPS units in all the field trucks. I would recieve calls like;
“Unit 1 why are you not at the jobsite?”
“Base, its 105* out and we are getting some drinks at the AM PM”
“Roger Unit 1″

“Unit 1 we show you on the 80 where are you going?”
“Base, it is 6pm I am heading home.”
“Roger Unit 1.”

“Unit 1 it is 7:10am, why are you stopped on the highway and not at the office?” (we started at 7am)
“Base, there was a wreck I guess and I am in a traffic jam.”
“Roger Unit 1, you should leave earlier for work.”
“STFU asshole, Unit 1 out.”

I ended up disconnecting the GPS and throwing it on the bosses desk telling him it was either me or the GPS but one of us has to go. he told me to get back to work. About a month later I quit after I looked underneath the truck and saw the GPS unit reinstalled. Approx. one year later they were out business. Nobody would work there.

Good luck Euros.

# 4 The Pirate said, on March 30th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Oh I almost forgot. Attach one of these to the “Sensor/Transmitter/GPS” unit and remove as needed for anonymity. http://tiny.cc/zWEPm

Works well I hear.

# 5 dusanmal said, on March 30th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

@#2, 4: Problem is that they study it as a mandatory device (even in USA in Oregon). Disable it in any way and you’ll be in for a hefty fine. The only way out is to raise hell before Govt. even finishes “the study”. But, that’s why they have started from Oregon and under the guise of “environmental vehicle taxation”. Enough Green Nazis in Oregon to support this idea.
Even some Internet “Big Wigs” like J.Calacanis want this to be mandatory “to improve traffic” by monitoring where traffic jams are. He has a lot of money but on this issue he is an idiot. Is escape from a traffic jam worth 24/7 surveillance on you?

# 6 dak said, on March 30th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

#4 – Uh – what will a big magnet do?

# 7 faxon said, on March 30th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Another reason to do exactly what I am doing.

# 8 Thinker said, on March 30th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

Tin foil hats on standby!

I agree with #2. Of course, I wouldn’t tell the DMV in my state when I moved two doors down either. Yeah, they could fine me, but if I tell them my new address what do they do?? Send me a piece of paper I’m supposed to tuck in with my drivers license. Yeah, real serious.
Junk mail doesn’t have any trouble finding me. Don’t tell your magazine you’ve moved? They figure it out!

This is why you don’t want the Feds looking at something like this. They’ll feel the need to act on our behalf!

# 9 Thinker said, on March 30th, 2009 at 7:35 pm

Pirate, that looks like a serious magnet.

# 10 ECA said, on March 30th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

lets see how much the unit costs, as MOST new car parts are VERY expensive..
Then the service itself..
and WHO do you think foots the bill?

# 11 ECA said, on March 30th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

AS WELL AS,
you having access to it, IF’ your car is stollen..

# 12 The Pirate said, on March 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

#6 – It will pick up loose change as you drive down the road, for the hefty fine of course.

# 13 Jason said, on March 30th, 2009 at 11:33 pm

actually, i never said i wanted this every car. I think if a lot of cars sent traffic data ***anonymously*** that would be great for helping move traffic along. however, i don’t think any of this data should be stored on an individual basis or tracked. It’s enough to say “a car is moving at 25 MPG on main street at 3:45pm.” there is no need to know whose car that is!

# 14 MikeN said, on March 31st, 2009 at 3:58 am

why do you hate technology so much?
And why are you against fighting global warming?

# 15 BubbaRay said, on March 31st, 2009 at 4:05 am

#4, Pirate, good idea. There are some rare earth magnets available that are much smaller that will also do the job. Just don’t get them near your watch or a doorknob.

200 lbs. pull is a serious magnet!

# 16 Paddy-O said, on March 31st, 2009 at 6:02 am

Gotta love those left wing nut jobs in the EU. Always thinking of ways to erode civil liberties…

# 17 Mr Diesel said, on March 31st, 2009 at 6:22 am

Funny the left wing nut jobs haven’t started this here already. You know, the one who said Bush was going to declare martial law and halt elections so he could stay in office…..

# 18 Paddy-O said, on March 31st, 2009 at 7:07 am

#17 – Yeah, I remember the nut jobs on this site predicting Bush declaring martial law to avoid the election. What we got instead was the most comprehensive Presidential apprenticeship in U.S. history.

From the info I have, Bush was advised that due to Obama’s lack of qualifications to hold even a minor exec position, it would be best to apprentice him as much as possible before the turn over.

# 19 Killer duck said, on March 31st, 2009 at 7:31 am

This was proposed in the US years ago, look up OBD-III a proposal to make OBD-II data reported on the go.

The fact is, there is no stopping this. The government will find a way to show that this surveillance system stops global warning and reduces child pornography. Then politically it will be cool to do. It may take 5 years, but frankly, OnStar is already there almost.

# 20 MikeN said, on March 31st, 2009 at 8:23 am

#18, I think Bush arranged for Obama to win the presidency as a way to improve his legacy.

# 21 LibertyLover said, on March 31st, 2009 at 12:06 pm

#20, Now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are.

# 22 sucksauce said, on April 1st, 2009 at 6:32 am

Next thing you know they are going to be using the tracking system to electronically file speeding tickets.

AFAIK they use that line of thinking on the Jersey Turnpike: you get a time stamped card when you enter the JT and it gets checked when you leave to see how much you should pay (depending where you got on) – but if you *somehow* made it from one end of the JT to the other faster than they deem is possible traveling the speed limit…

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