> Attorneys for the family claim Volkswagen refused to assist authorities in tracking the car until payment of their tracking system was paid and activated.

Considering all news is engineered for maximum outrage, I wonder what the reality of the situation is from VW's side.

Did Volkswagen refuse to assist, or was compliance not possible because the tracker wasn't active due to nonpayment?

If the tracker wasn't active, it's unsettling that it could be activated with an exigent-circumstances request. Those don't even need a warrant.

But if they had the data and refused to share it, VW was rent-seeking during a fucking hostage situation involving a baby. I don't put anything past anybody but that seems too monstrous to believe.

VW continues to eat shit for the emissions scandal, but the media has historically been way more dishonest than VW.