• Tesla intensifies driver monitoring
• Privacy concerns from data collection
• Balance between benefits and risks
Distracted driving: Can camera surveillance counteract this?
Tesla is increasing control over the driving behavior of its users, whether the vehicle is in autopilot mode or driven manually. As part of this effort, the company has launched various initiatives, including the introduction of an in-cab camera placed near the interior rearview mirror, Teslarati reports. This instrument can detect driver distractions, such as phone use or falling asleep at the wheel.
To more effectively combat the problem of distracted driving, which is often the cause of accidents, Tesla has increased penalties and disabled Autopilot for those who might use it improperly.
As part of a planned system update, Tesla is now aiming to monitor a wider range of driver behavior. This includes characteristics such as the number of yawns, the frequency and duration of blinking and the driver’s posture to possibly assess their level of fatigue. While the code for these updates is being injected, it is not yet visible in the UI, meaning the changes are not yet effective.
This expanded driver monitoring is also a response to media reports that quickly point to Tesla’s assistance systems, such as Autopilot and fully autonomous driving, in the event of accidents. However, Tesla has been cleared of any guilt in several recent cases, as Teslamag reported in an April 22 post.
In addition, Tesla has also made other safety improvements more recently, including adjustments to its automatic emergency braking system.
Disadvantage: privacy issues
While Teslarati’s increased surveillance of drivers may help improve safety, as Teslarati reports in a May 13 post, it also opens up serious discussions about privacy and data security. The proliferation of technology and connectivity in vehicles has enabled large amounts of data, often several gigabytes per hour, to be collected.
The cameras in the vehicles are particularly noteworthy. While they enable useful features like semi-autonomous driving or dashcams for rideshare drivers, they can also collect sensitive information. While monitoring through applications embedded in vehicle systems can result in insurance rebates based on safe driving practices, one should carefully consider what one is giving up when choosing new technology-enabled products.
A recent case clearly illustrates the dilemma between utility and privacy: Former Tesla employees had access to the camera recordings of Tesla’s vehicles and forwarded them via an internal messaging system. Although these recordings were anonymized, they sometimes contained enough information to assign a vehicle to a specific owner or they were linked to location data.
These employees were originally only supposed to review material on improving Tesla’s autonomous driving capabilities. Instead, however, they selected interesting clips and used them for their own entertainment. With such concerns in mind, companies should prioritize privacy when it comes to in-vehicle surveillance cameras, ensuring customer data is protected from hackers and their privacy is protected.
Privacy laws might need to be strengthened and regulators like the FTC might need to enforce stricter regulations when companies violate consumer privacy. It is crucial for consumers to be clear about what data is being collected and who has access to that information. Don’t be surprised if companies use sensitive video for internal purposes.
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