Dear Car Talk:
I saw a movie called “Old Dads”. In this movie, four men get fired from their jobs for talking while driving a rental car on business. This conversation was recorded by the rental company and handed over to their boss, who subsequently fired them for violating the terms of their contract.
After searching online, I found an article that says there is truth to this. So my question is, isn’t this an invasion of privacy? Does the rental company have a duty to notify the renter?
I’m sure you have other questions and information about “spy cameras” in rental cars. thank you. – invoice
Bill, do you know what you had to scavenge from city streets back in the days when people traveled by horse? Well, that’s what this story is about.
When the Internet first appeared, I remember thinking that it could be a great educational tool for all of humanity, that all the knowledge in the world would be available to everyone at their fingertips. Instead, it provides a forum for all the knowledgeable and paranoid imaginative knuckleheads in the world to find like-minded knuckleheads and spread their nonsense.
Now, back to cars, let’s leave the philosophical stuff to a tip from Eloise. There’s no truth to this, Bill. If a rental car company secretly records its customers, it would be violating all sorts of state and federal laws.
There is no device in the car provided by the manufacturer that allows the rental company to do this. And no respectable car rental company will install such equipment. There is no benefit for the rental car company. And the risks are enormous, from criminal liability to international embarrassment and loss of customers.
So, rest assured, Bill, neither your boss nor, perhaps more importantly, your spouse recorded what you last said in your rental car. Unless that Snoopy Alexa is listening.
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