Cameras In Rentals Hertz Business

Hertz has installed cameras that are able to view the interior of the vehicle in a portion of its fleet and many customers are upset. The company claims the cameras have never been used but they put out a commercial showing how handy the device could be in case of an accident. A representative for the company claims that was a 'mock up'. A mock up? In advertising, really? That kind of behavior; advertising a feature that is not available OR stating the cameras had never been used when they had been, because only one of those statements can be true, makes one wonder if camera use would be disclosed in the future. The book 1984 wasn't even close, there won't be just one big brother watching.

Books Selected and endorsed for Pure Weirdness by Your WU Team

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Comments

That's horrifying. Not to mention, probably illegal. How much expectation of privacy do I have in a rental car? Will the camera watch me enter my PIN at a drive-thru ATM? What about if the car is parked up Lovers' Lane? How long until the video feed gets hacked?

As another point, can you really have a private conversation in a car with OnStar?

Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 03/16/15 at 05:05 PM

Some companies already use GPS to track speed in their rentals. There have been instances where customers have received billing for excess speed. Regrettable, but you are renting someone's property on contract and are expected to return it intact. Caveat emptor.

Posted by KDP on 03/16/15 at 05:40 PM

Big Brother from 1984 is a pervert also. I'm sure the viewers of the cameras are drooling, panting, sweating and self pleasuring themselves. Now to locate the cameras and add a nail polish haze.

Posted by Gator Guy on 03/16/15 at 07:42 PM

Oh you can bet if I have to get a rental the whole GPS will be covered up. Also, it was an issue in the article that there was no disclosure of or rules of use for the cameras.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 03/16/15 at 07:49 PM

The last time I rented a car I hooked into the computer port under the dash and wiped all the stored data.

Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 03/16/15 at 07:55 PM

Some rental contracts restrict where you can travel. I've heard of rental companies using tracking information to catch people breaking their contracts.

Posted by ges on 03/16/15 at 09:02 PM

BD, as usual honey, you are my hero! :coolsmile:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 03/16/15 at 11:19 PM

Many car companies are either putting, or have plans to put, cameras in cars to watch for sleepy, distracted, or inattentive drivers.

Posted by RobK on 03/18/15 at 11:49 AM

And if you are using some sort of speech recognition system, unless it is push to talk, it is likely all your conversations are being sent up into the cloud to do speech processing.

Posted by RobK on 03/18/15 at 11:51 AM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.