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Your car: the snitch

Remember when I wrote, not so long ago, that modern cars were a threat to privacy and they were likely going to be used to provide evidence for issuing fines and fees?

I can almost guarantee you that at some time in the not-too-distant future, the data logged by your car will be used to issue traffic infringement fines for things such as speeding. Since this telemetry is logged and almost all modern cars (especially EVs) have connections to the internet, authorities will likely use this data to make sure you're "safe and compliant".

A great example of exactly how this sort of thing is already happening has appeared in the USA recently.

The functions previously delivered by purpose-designed GPS tracking devices is now built into these modern cars and it is available to anyone with the right gear to access it.

One such party is, of course, the manufacturer and their dealers.

It seems that in the USA, those manufacturers and their dealers are sharing crucial telemetry data with insurance companies, without customers' knowledge or consent.

As a result of this data-sharing, some people have found their insurance premiums have been hiked when that telemetry indicated instances of hard acceleration or braking.

Yes, these cars are snitching on their owners and that costs those people money.

If insurers can get access to this data then it stands to reason that law enforcement will jump on the same bandwagon.

Imagine just how much money would be generated if *every* instance of speeding resulted in an appropriate fine arriving in the mail.

Even worse, I predict that it's only a matter of time before drivers have to register their credit cards or a bank account with the government so that such fines can automatically be settled via a charge or direct debit.

But wait, it gets worse...

Due to the increasingly "connected" nature of modern vehicles, it's also just a matter of time before cars are automatically disabled by authorities in the event that road-user-charges or fines are not able to be collected. Even something as simple as an expired WOF could see your vehicle disabled by the government for "safety" reasons.

As I have previously stated, that older car may soon be highly sought-after for its simplicity and lack of inbuilt connectivity. That 1960 Morris 1000 won't narc on you to the cops when you inadvertently do 55kph in a 50 zone and it can't be remotely disabled because of unpaid parking fines.

However, do not underestimate the tennacity of authorities. Even those with older vehicles may eventually find themselves subject to the same automated scrutiny and control. What's the bet that those vehicles will require the addition of "connected" data logging and disabling units?

Anyone who doubts that this could be a future reality only needs to look (again) to the USA where, in just four days time, every toy RC plane and drone weighing 250g or more will, by law, require the addition of a GPS-based tracking beacon, for "safety" reasons.

Seriously, when not one single person has ever died as the result of the recreational use of multirotor drones, to dictate that they must *all* carry such remotely accessible tracking devices makes it a no-brainer that cars (which claim hundreds of lives every year in NZ alone), should be equipped likewise.

"Dystopian" is a word I find myself using with increasing frequency when describing the world around me.

Carpe Diem folks!

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