General Motors is facing yet another lawsuit, this time over the alleged sharing of driving data without the customer’s approval.

The federal lawsuit, filed against GM and LexisNexis Risk Solutions by GM customer Romeo Chicco, alleges that the sharing of his driving habits in his 2021 Cadillac XT6 led to his rejection by seven auto insurance companies late last year. He finally discovered the reason: information about his speeding, hard braking and acceleration, and trip durations over the course of some 258 trips was being shared with insurance companies, leading to “significantly elevated” insurance premiums, Chicco alleges.

Chicco found out about the sharing of his data from a Liberty Mutual agent who told him he had been rejected because of information in a report from LexisNexis, which provides insurers with data on drivers’ moving violations, accident history, and prior insurance coverage.

Chicco contends the information was collected without his permission, but GM eventually told him he had enrolled in the OnStar Smart Driver program that tracks and rates driving habits and seatbelt use. Chicco denies signing up for the program, though he does admit to downloading the MyCadillac mobile app.

A recent New York Times report detailed how OnStar provides insurance companies with customer driving data through a data broker, with GM issuing this explanation last week:

“GM’s OnStar Smart Driver service is optional to customers, who give their consent three times before limited data is shared with an insurance carrier through a third party. Customer benefits include learning more about their safe driving behaviors or vehicle performance that, with their consent, may be used to obtain insurance quotes. Customers can also unroll from Smart Driver at any time.”

GM claims the Smart Driver program has saved its customers millions of dollars in reduced car insurance rates but says that anyone with an issue over the program can start a live chat, push their blue OnStar button, or call 1-888-466-7827. More information is also available on the web at https://www.onstar.com/support/faq/smart-driver.