Latest news with #Arity
Axios
21-05-2025
- Axios
IDOT delays Kennedy ramp closures as record Memorial Day travel expected
Memorial Day travel is projected to beat a 20-year-old record high this year, according to AAA data released last week. Why it matters: Americans' deep pessimism about the economy isn't deterring them from traveling to celebrate the unofficial start of summer. "Despite concerns over rising prices, many Americans say they're taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to spend time with loved ones, even if the trips are closer to home," AAA said in a statement. By the numbers: 45.1 million Americans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday. That's an increase of 1.4 million travelers from last year and surpasses the record 44 million people who traveled in 2005. The latest: The Illinois Department of Transportation may have read the same data, because it's delaying the dreaded Kennedy outbound ramp closures until next week. The delay may come with a cost, as IDOT is going to close more ramps than originally planned. The closures begin next Tuesday and continue through June. Zoom in: 87% of Memorial Day travelers, or 39.4 million people, are taking road trips this year, per AAA. Yes, but: Over 39,000 people died from Memorial Day weekend car accidents in 2024, according to the mobility firm Arity. Last year, the Friday before the weekend saw 7.2% more trips than the Friday before, which points to more long-distance drivers on the road, which could lead to more fatigue. Arity also found that about 10% of drivers unlock their phones once every 75 miles and 25% check their phones at least once every 5 miles. State of play: If you want to avoid traffic jams on Friday, the AAA suggests you leave early. The best time to drive on Friday would be before 10am, and to return before 2pm on Monday. The worst time? Friday afternoon from 2pm–6pm.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apps may quietly track your driving and raise your car insurance rates
Apps on your phone may track you in ways you don't expect. They have nothing to do with insurance or even driving. But Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke says they could cause your car insurance to go up. Larry Johnson was shopping for car insurance which should have been a breeze since he had no wrecks and a credit score on the way up. How to save money at the pump 'The quotes I [were] getting just didn't make sense to me,' he said. Johnson's been a big fan of the Life360 app. 'We have kids that are driving that go to school, so we want to keep up where everybody is,' he said. He now knows the app was keeping track of something else: His family's driving. 'It's shocking and it feels, you know, like a violation almost,' he said. Johnson deleted Life360 and plenty of other apps on his phone. "I look for location. I look for tracking data, and I look to see what they do with that data and if I can opt out or not. And if I can't, then I don't use the app,' he said. The Texas Attorney General is taking legal action, claiming a data broker, called Arity, embedded tracking technology in popular apps without telling consumers, including Life360. The lawsuit alleges, 'When a consumer downloaded the third-party app onto their phone, they also unwittingly downloaded defendants' software.' It goes on to say, 'Defendants could monitor the consumer's location and movement in real-time.' EPIC privacy analyst Sarah Geoghegan says confusing and lengthy terms and conditions shouldn't give companies free reign with your information. 'We have no way of knowing how this is going to be used against us,' she said. 'You're opting into an app that is supposed to be about family safety. You don't understand that that means through many, like down the ecosystem, down the data chain, that that actually is your car insurance company.' You've probably never heard of Arity, but you've probably heard of its owner, Allstate. Allstate doesn't just use the data, itself. The company also sells it to other insurance companies. Allstate shared a screenshot with Channel 9's sister station in Atlanta, WSB. It says you can opt in to share your data to possibly get a better rate. But the Texas Attorney General lawsuit alleges companies are collecting and selling information on drivers who never opt in that way. When WSB reached out to Arity, they pointed WSB back to the Attorney General lawsuit. It includes an exhibit showing consumers to allow location and motion data to be shared when they sign up for Life360. And in their legal response, Arity claims, 'The Arity Companies are separate and distinct legal entities from The Allstate Corporation and its insurance company affiliates.' But when WSB reached out to Arity regarding this news report, an Allstate representative with an Allstate email responded, saying, 'Consumers who choose to share driving data through Arity-powered apps can access emergency assistance, track fuel efficiency and unlock personalized insurance rates after a clear notice and explicit opt-in process.' And how good even is that data? Tina Marie Johnson's case signed up for an actual driving app through her auto insurance, not Life360. 'Last year alone, my rates went up three times. And I have no accidents, no speeding tickets, no nothing,' she said. Johnson says the app regularly dinged her for unsafe driving for her car's automatic braking. Then there was the time she says she was using a scooter inside a grocery store. "It was reading me drive and I'm like, 'Wait a minute. What's going on here?'" she said. Federal lawmakers recently introduced a bill -- the Delete Act -- that would allow consumers to ask data brokers to delete this information and even allow you to join a 'Do Not Track' list. It's in committee. It's unclear how likely it is to pass. VIDEO: Federal lawmakers outline plan to expand digital privacy nationwide
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It feels like a violation': Atlanta driver's ‘free' app was collecting his data and feeding it to his insurer
Larry Johnson thought he was doing everything right. The Atlanta father had a clean driving record, a rising credit score and a practical tool to monitor his family: the Life360 app. When he started shopping for car insurance recently, the quotes were unexpectedly high, and something wasn't adding up. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'The quotes I was getting just didn't make sense to me,' Johnson told Channel 2. Eventually, an agent told him he had a 'low insurance score.' He later realized that the Life360 app also tracked their driving and fed that data to insurance companies. 'It's shocking. And it feels like a violation almost,' Johnson said. 'I don't mind signing up for something when I know what I'm getting myself into.' Life360 is a popular location-tracking app marketed to families for safety and peace of mind. However, according to Channel 2, Life360 and similar apps may be doing much more than users realize. A lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that a data broker called Arity — a subsidiary of Allstate Insurance — embedded tracking software into apps like Life360 and GasBuddy. The software allegedly monitors users' real-time location and movement without clearly disclosing that companies can use it to adjust insurance prices. Paxton alleges that 'the personal data of millions of Americans was sold to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent in violation of the law.' Allstate has stated that Arity is a separate legal entity, but reporters who contacted Arity received a response from an Allstate email address. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now Apps that track motion and location may collect data sold to third parties. These data brokers aggregate your behaviour to create a 'driving profile' that insurers can use to determine your risk level and adjust your premium accordingly. 'You're getting similar quotes from similar insurance companies because they're pulling from the [same] database,' Johnson told Channel 2. Tina Marie Johnson also reported that her insurer's 'safe driving' app penalized her for her car's automatic braking, a safety feature she can't control. She was also flagged for erratic driving while using a mobility scooter in a grocery store. Most apps like Life360 or GasBuddy are free to download but often monetize user data. While you may think you're only sharing your location to find cheaper gas or keep your kids safe, that data can be repackaged and sold. After learning how Life360 handled his data, Johnson deleted the app and changed how he evaluates new tools. 'I look for location, I look for tracking data, and I look to see what they do with that data and if I can opt out or not. And if I can't, then I don't use the app,' he told Channel 2. Privacy advocates argue that stronger legislation is needed. Recently, Georgian Senator Jon Ossoff and a Louisiana Republican introduced the bipartisan DELETE Act, requiring data brokers to delete consumer information upon request and create a 'do not track' list. 'Data brokers are buying, collecting and reselling vast amounts of personal information about all of us without our consent,' said Ossoff. 'This bipartisan bill is about returning control of our personal data to us, the American people.' Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Allstate slammed with lawsuit after scheme to spy on millions of Americans is uncovered: 'Without their knowledge or consent'
Allstate Insurance and its subsidiary Arity are being sued for collecting, using, and selling over 45 million Americans' driving data to insurance companies without consent, according to Malwarebytes. This case comes amid a tumultuous year for insurance companies, mainly on the home insurance front, as many have recently come under fire for dropping coverage ahead of major weather disasters. Allstate partnered with app developers such as Life360 to covertly gather driving data from users and then use that driving data as justification for raising rates. In addition to using the data for their customers, Allstate has also sold data to other insurance companies so they can raise rates as well. This scheme is being called the "world's largest driving behavior database." Do you worry about companies having too much of your personal data? Absolutely Sometimes Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Our investigation revealed that Allstate and Arity paid mobile apps millions of dollars to install Allstate's tracking software," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. "The personal data of millions of Americans was sold to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent in violation of the law. Texans deserve better, and we will hold all these companies accountable." General Motors and other car manufacturers are under investigation for similar breaches. Allstate is being accused of purchasing that data from manufacturers as well, including Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram. While there are clear dollar-and-cents consequences of inadvertently sharing location in instances like this, there are bigger risks if those wheeling and dealing in data don't do so securely. Bad actors who gain illicit access to location data can engage in stalking and identity theft. Most uses of location data range from benign advertising to beneficial emergency services. The crux of the issue is consent. End users need to know what they're getting by providing their location data to an organization. Allstate is being sued under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. Some states have more robust data privacy laws than others, and they can all be tracked here. Robust federal action is also being taken against location data brokers. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
