Local · Vermont
Vermont to Receive $4.5 Million in GM Data Privacy Settlement
Attorney General Charity Clark says General Motors shared drivers’ data with insurers without adequate consent; GM admits no wrongdoing.
Vermont will receive $4.5 million from General Motors as part of a $220 million multistate settlement over the automaker’s collection and sale of driver data, Attorney General Charity Clark announced Thursday. The money goes to the state’s General Fund.
VTDigger reported Clark said that from 2016 to 2024 GM gathered data on driving behavior, such as speed and seat belt use, through its Smart Driver program and shared it with insurers and data brokers without adequate consent, VTDigger reported. She said some insurers raised drivers’ rates based on the data. Under the settlement GM does not admit breaking any law.
The settlement requires GM to obtain express customer consent before collecting or disclosing data and limits how much it can collect, WCAX reported. A GM spokesman said the company ended Smart Driver in 2024 and has strengthened its privacy practices. Clark said Vermont receives more than its population share because it began investigating early. VTDigger noted a Federal Trade Commission order in January restricting GM’s data sharing and an ongoing class-action suit.
Sources
- VTDigger, Oct. 29, 2026: settlement terms, alleged conduct, GM’s response, related actions <https://vtdigger.org/2026/10/29/vermont-to-receive-4-5-settlement-from-general-motors-following-data-privacy-investigation/>
- WCAX, Oct. 29, 2026: $220 million total, consent requirement, Clark’s comments <https://www.wcax.com/2026/10/29/vermont-get-45m-data-privacy-settlement-with-general-motors/>
This article was drafted with automated tools from the sources listed, checked by a review pass, and published by Daniel Varrone. Corrections: editor@monochromechronicles.com