Maine is set to receive just over $2.8 million from a settlement with General Motors over allegations that the company sold consumers' private driving behavior data and location information to third parties.
This is part of a broader $220 million agreement between the automotive company and a coalition of 35 states, including Maine, and the District of Columbia.
The lawsuit behind this settlement stemmed from GM’s Smart Driver program, which enrolled millions of drivers between 2016 and 2024, when it was discontinued. Plaintiffs alleged that GM sold users’ data collected through the program without their consent.
In addition to paying the settlement, GM has agreed to limit the driving data it collects and obtain explicit consumer permission before collecting or sharing data in the future.
A separate data privacy lawsuit involving GM was resolved in May after the company agreed to pay $12.75 million to end a California investigation into its alleged sale of driver data to two data brokers.
GM also agreed with the US Federal Trade Commission in January 2025 not to disclose vehicle geolocation or driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies for at least five years.
According to Reuters, a GM spokesperson said this most recent agreement reinforces other steps the company is taking to strengthen customer privacy.
“Safer, more helpful and personalized experiences are enabled by connected vehicle data, and GM is committed to being clear about what information is used, how it's protected, and the choices customers have about what they share,” a GM spokesperson said.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey celebrated the settlement in a statement Thursday.
"This settlement serves as a reminder that a customer's personal data is not just some commodity for corporations to sell behind the customer's back," Frey said.
“Without obtaining appropriate consent, General Motors profited by tracking customers' driving habits in order to sell that data to car insurance companies,” he added. “This practice outrageously intruded on the privacy of drivers in Maine and across the nation."
Click Here to Read Attorney General Frey’s Full Statement
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