Connecticut Secures $6 Million Share of GM Data Settlement
Attorney General William Tong announced the state’s portion of a multistate deal that resolves claims over the sale of driver information.
By Harper Collins ·
General Motors will pay a multistate settlement totaling $220 million, a figure that includes a $6 million allocation for Connecticut residents. Attorney General William Tong announced the financial breakdown this week. The money stems from a legal dispute over how the automaker handled private driving data.
The case centers on a program called Smart Driver. General Motors marketed the tool as a method to encourage safer driving habits. A 2024 report by The New York Times revealed that the program shared users' driving data with third-party brokers. The program is now defunct.
Those brokers passed the information along to insurance companies. Insurers frequently raised rates for drivers who participated in the Smart Driver program. This practice created a direct financial impact on policyholders who had opted in for safety incentives.
Connecticut authorities investigated the program's use within the state. This probe was one of the first launched under the Connecticut Data Privacy Act. Tong's office determined that approximately 123,000 residents were affected by the data sharing practices.
The settlement resolves allegations that General Motors improperly sold this private data. The multistate deal provides compensation to affected consumers across the participating jurisdictions. The $6 million share represents the portion designated for the state of Connecticut.
Attorney General Tong framed the settlement as a corrective measure for the mishandling of consumer information. The office of the Attorney General led the effort to identify the number of affected drivers in the state. The financial award will be distributed to those residents.
The legal action followed a broader pattern of states examining automotive data practices. The Connecticut investigation focused on the specific mechanics of the Smart Driver program. The findings supported the claim that drivers did not receive adequate notice of how their data was being used.
Tong announced the figures publicly to inform residents of their entitlement. The settlement serves as a conclusion to the specific allegations regarding the Smart Driver program. The $6 million will be used to compensate the estimated 123,000 affected individuals in the state.
