General Motors turns valet mode option into illegal spying and recording device-Corvette C7 Stingray owners can become legally liable

In general, the rule of thumb is not to let a stranger drive your valuable possession on four wheels but... if it has to be done, then keeping strangers like valets and dealer lot attendants and mechanics in line by restricting their ability to take the car anywhere and tear a crap out of it sounds like a great idea.

+General Motors , as usual, does not break any new grounds here-many companies have been offering valet restrictive driving mode for years.

However, GM may be taking matter too far in this case.

How does the Valet mode work in the Stingray?   After entering a personal code on the touchscreen, the vehicle's power is cut down to prevent tire smoking and engine over revving.  When the Stingray is in the valet mode, the driver sees this firmly displayed on the screen.

But... what the driver does not see is a notification that he or she are being recorded using the onboard camera and PDR, offered as an option on the Stingray.  What the accidental driver does not know either is the fact that not only the video is being recorded but AUDIO as well.  Thus, effectively, GM provides the Stingray owners with eavesdropping device and allows them to record other people's voices, WITHOUT A NOTIFICACTION AND PERMISSION.

While it is not illegal to photograph or record images in public places in almost every state, some states have eavesdropping laws that criminalize recording oral conversations without permission, which has led to arrests due to the fact that videographers don't usually make silent movies.

And here lies the stupidity of GM:  even if an event of wild valet gets caught on the recorder, it is very likely it will be readily tossed out by a judge due to the lack of permission obtained from the driver.

Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing stopping such person from aggressively pursuing the owner of the car for illegal recording of that person, without obtaining an explicit permission.  A smart plaintiff will not only sue the car owner to the last penny but sue GM as well and hopefully Mary Barra and +Tadge Juechter  personally, to teach them a good lesson in laws protecting citizens of this country.

To see something really stupid coming from GM and Juechter is not a big surprise but this time, GM may be breaking new grounds-in violating people's privacy and personal freedom rights.  On the bright side, this newest entrapment should be a big hit in China.