Kidnapping, Carjacking, and GPS tracking subscription

[Axtremus]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/11/17/volkswagen-lawsuit-gps-carjacking-illinois/

Man carjacked a VW with baby in it.
The VW has GPS location tracking capability.
Law enforcement contacted VW asking for the VW's GPS location.
VW customer service representative said no unless a $150 subscription is paid to activate the GPS service.

The baby, unharmed (except perhaps psychologically) and the VW has since been recovered. The $150 subscription fee was paid. And VW has publicly apologized.

Reading a story like this, what's your reaction?

1. Express negative thoughts/emotions at VW
2. Go activate your car's GPS location tracking service subscription
3. Think VW was right -- you want a service, you pay the subscription; this is a bargain known to all parties well ahead of time, VW was just sticking to the bargain
4. Sue VW for damages
5. Want a law requiring a car company to provide certain assistance to law enforcement with legitimate requests under certain circumstances

You can choose more than one choices from the above, of course.

The parents chose:

click to show

1. Publicly condemn VW, 4. sue VW and Verizon that provides the connectivity service to VW's GPS location reporting service, and they have also sold the VW claiming they cannot bear the psychological stress of ever entering that VW again.
   

[Mik]

Civic mindedness!

[Axtremus]

@Mik said in Kidnapping, Carjacking, and GPS tracking subscription:

Civic mindedness!

Nice sloganeering!

[jon-nyc]

I wouldn’t sue but that’s easy for me to say since I don’t need money.

I would try to reach an agreement with VW whereby they work with major manufacturers to create a voluntary industry standard for cooperation with law enforcement for when the safety of individuals (not just property) is involved.

[Axtremus]

@jon-nyc said in Kidnapping, Carjacking, and GPS tracking subscription:

I would try to reach an agreement with VW whereby they work with major manufacturers to create a voluntary industry standard for cooperation with law enforcement for when the safety of individuals (not just property) is involved.

That’s a reasonable approach.