Here’s another case, this time from the Netherlands, demonstrating the Iron Law of Data Collection. Modern cars all collect information on the car’s operation. Accident investigators love this type of information because it tells them the vehicle’s speed, braking, and other useful readings. Tesla does this too, of course, but their system is more like an airliner’s flight recorder. It captures a huge amount of data including the operation of and driver interaction with its Autopilot system.
Tesla, like other public companies complies with subpoenas for vehicle driving information but provides only the information asked for. Recently the Dutch National forensic lab has figured out how to decode Tesla’s encrypted vehicle logs, giving them access to a complete picture of a vehicle’s operation.
On the one hand, this doesn’t seem that unreasonable. Who can be against investigating accidents, after all? On the other hand, it’s also easy to see how this information could be abused. The Iron Law tells us that it certainly will be. Tesla, for its part, has a legitimate reason for collecting the data: they use it to find problems with and improve their cars.
Judging from his public record, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Elon Musk respond to this by strengthening the encryption. Tesla routinely does over-the-air updates of the car’s software so this would be pretty easy for them. Regardless, it’s yet another demonstration of the fact that if you collect information, sooner or later someone is going to demand access to it