Cops Want To Be Able To Shut Off Self-Driving Cars

[mahatmakanejeeves]

THE MORNING SHIFT

Cops Want To Be Able To Shut Off Self-Driving Cars

David Tracy
Today 10:00am Filed to: THE MORNING SHIFT

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1st Gear: U.S. Regulators Struggling To Decided If Authorities Should Be Able To Shut Off Self-Driving Cars

It’s more than just technology that’s holding back self-driving cars from becoming a widespread reality, it’s infrastructure: not just physical, but also legislative. Among the issues still on the U.S. government’s table as last March is whether authorities should be able to shut down a self-driving car remotely, with Reuters discussing a recently-released 39-page report:

In closed-door meetings last March, U.S. transportation regulators and others grappled with questions about whether police should have the power to disable self-driving cars and whether an automatic alert that a robo-taxi had been in a wreck could violate an occupant’s privacy, a report released on Tuesday showed.

The theme of the meetings was to discuss “legal, safety and social issues” associated with autonomous cars, and among those present, the news site reports, were representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as “industry, labor, and advocacy groups.”

While law enforcement representatives mentioned that they might like the ability to control self-driving cars, a number of meeting participants were apparently concerned that such capability would give hackers a way in, with Reuters writing:

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[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. There's not enough self-driving cars out there to matter.

I'm sure what they really want is the ability to shut off any and all cars.

[htuttle]

2. It's already crazy simple to hack self driving cars

Just put stickers on signs, etc

http://www.thedrive.com/tech/13258/researchers-fool-self-driving-cars-with-stickers-on-street-signs

I do not plan to ride in a self driving car for many years.

To put this in perspective, I've been a professional software developer for 21 years, and spent over 15 of those years writing code for the transportation industry. I'm going to be one of the last people to trust those things, since I'm keenly aware of how difficult the problem domain is.

I just hope to avoid getting run over by one.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. I won't be trusting one for a ride to the airport let alone buying one

Safety or mission critical s/w should be subject to rigorous requirements review and the object code ISO 15408 EAL 7 compliant.

IMHO Windows is bunch of band aids holding hands.

[DetlefK]

3. I sense a slippery-slope coming up.

First they demand the ability to remotely shut off self-driving cars. Then they demand the ability to remotely shut off the car or smartphone of a suspect.



And all the while we still have next to no accountability for cops abusing their powers.

[Hoyt]

4. Seems to me, some authority needs to be able to shut off a rogue self-driving car(s).

Even where a "pilot" or safety-driver is required, it might be required to shut off and park the vehicle.

BTW -- How do I flip-off a self-driving car?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. This would be an Authoritarian tool when all cars are self-driving

Could also make all cars that are outside of their home neighborhood report to the nearest police station.

Every car driven in San Diego by Jose and Mr. Zhi report to the ICE facility. With doors locked.

Every car with instructions in Chicago going to Fields area where a major demonstration is scheduled will be automatically diverted to a random location 15 miles away and parked for 8 hours.