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This is not an issue. You rent a car, a 50k+ product. You should expect there to be a GPS, Camera, Mic, etc. This is not your product that is filled with spy d

This is not an issue. You rent a car, a 50k+ product. You should expect there to be a GPS, Camera, Mic, etc. This is not your product that is filled with spy devices. You are renting one of their product and it's their right to make sure you are not mistreating it. That being said, if they were to sell those recording, yes it would be an issue. Edit: Yes, your landlord shouldn't be allowed to put microphones and cameras in your apartment. However, when you are renting a Hertz car, you are renting a piece of equipment for a short duration. This isn't a living space we are talking about. It's the short term rental of a piece of machinery.

sologoub 12y ago
By your argument when one rents a $500k+ apartment, the landlord SHOULD be filling it with cameras and microphones. This is exactly why we have the "right to quiet enjoyment" and privacy when you rent a home. This car is covered by various insurances and there really is no reason for Hertz to try and spy on the customers.
mholt 12y ago
Well I hope my apartment that I'm renting doesn't also come with mics and cameras, even if there are "no plans to use them." Inspecting the product after I return it is almost certainly cheaper and easier than building out a massive, distributed monitoring infrastructure. I can't imagine their motives are exactly agreeable with privacy advocates.
- samtho 12y ago
  The apartment argument is faulty. You're leasing the apartment for a long-term stay in addition to having laws requiring privacy in your own home. A landlord, for example, does not have the right to enter an occupied home without permission. A vehicle, by contrast, is equipment that is being rented. There is a greater chance of getting into a wreck with a vehicle than an apartment with the burden of insurance on the car rental company. A communication device such as this could be used for mal-intent, but does any company want a rep for spying on people? More than likely this is being used for safety and insurance in addition to a direct line to Hertz if you get into an accident or require roadside assistance. This is basically going to be OnStar taken to the 2010's of technology.
  - Cheapshot 12y ago
    Your argument is faulty. You rent a hotel room for a short term stay just like the car. You have an expectation of privacy in a hotel room just like in a car. If you disagree then you should be the last to complain when a private moment at a hotel room of you is leaked on the internet.
    - Raphmedia 12y ago
      But you don't carry the hotel room with you. A car is a piece of equipment. You use that piece of equipment in public. I don't see why there should be an expectation of privacy. Most security features are used once the car is flagged stolen. Nobody is going to listen to you sing karaoke in the car.
GFK_of_xmaspast 12y ago
What kind of rental car costs $50k. (I tend to get stuck with Ford Fusions and other shitboxes)

sologoub 12y ago

By your argument when one rents a $500k+ apartment, the landlord SHOULD be filling it with cameras and microphones. This is exactly why we have the "right to quiet enjoyment" and privacy when you rent a home. This car is covered by various insurances and there really is no reason for Hertz to try and spy on the customers.

mholt 12y ago

Well I hope my apartment that I'm renting doesn't also come with mics and cameras, even if there are "no plans to use them." Inspecting the product after I return it is almost certainly cheaper and easier than building out a massive, distributed monitoring infrastructure. I can't imagine their motives are exactly agreeable with privacy advocates.

samtho 12y ago
The apartment argument is faulty. You're leasing the apartment for a long-term stay in addition to having laws requiring privacy in your own home. A landlord, for example, does not have the right to enter an occupied home without permission. A vehicle, by contrast, is equipment that is being rented. There is a greater chance of getting into a wreck with a vehicle than an apartment with the burden of insurance on the car rental company. A communication device such as this could be used for mal-intent, but does any company want a rep for spying on people? More than likely this is being used for safety and insurance in addition to a direct line to Hertz if you get into an accident or require roadside assistance. This is basically going to be OnStar taken to the 2010's of technology.
- Cheapshot 12y ago
  Your argument is faulty. You rent a hotel room for a short term stay just like the car. You have an expectation of privacy in a hotel room just like in a car. If you disagree then you should be the last to complain when a private moment at a hotel room of you is leaked on the internet.
  - Raphmedia 12y ago
    But you don't carry the hotel room with you. A car is a piece of equipment. You use that piece of equipment in public. I don't see why there should be an expectation of privacy. Most security features are used once the car is flagged stolen. Nobody is going to listen to you sing karaoke in the car.

GFK_of_xmaspast 12y ago

What kind of rental car costs $50k. (I tend to get stuck with Ford Fusions and other shitboxes)