EU Turning Into Big Brother?
EU to use new emergency call system
As part of a new safety initiative, the European Union plans to require an automatic emergency call system, using GPS technology, in all new cars by 2009. The plan, called eCall and confirmed by a commission meeting in Brussels Thursday, would report your exact coordinates and any other information it can collect about the crash to a Public Service Answering Point (PSAP), which would report the information in a standardized way to the proper local emergency dispatch crews. The exact coordinates and standardized form will help reduce response times, and direct access to other information will help with EMT preparedness. No such system exists yet for the U.S. Automaker-implemented systems like GM's OnStar and Mercedes-Benz's TeleAid allow accidents to be reported, but the call or signal is first routed through an operator who then relays the information to the appropriate emergency operator. According to a release, studies have suggested that, once fully implemented, eCall could save up to 2000 lives per year in Europe. Implementation specifics are to be decided by the end of this year with field tests beginning next year. -Bengt Halvorson
While this sounds like good idea, it smacks of big brother watching and knowing where you are at all times. Not to mention what that will do to the price of the car. With GM's On-Star you are paying $17 per month for the service. With the EU eCall there is no monthly service but the automakers do not have an option to not install it, which means it's going to cost money, which in turn will be passed onto the consumer.
They don't say what information will be collected, but I'm wondering if it is information that can be used against you in a court case?
Hattip: The Car Connection