In May 2020, San Francisco Police Department Sergeant David Radford reached out to Elon Musk requesting data regarding remote access to a Tesla vehicle involved in an incident. The automaker was asked to provide information about a suspected stalker’s use of the vehicle. The woman involved in the incident had reported that her abusive husband had been tracking and harassing her using technology in his 2016 Tesla Model X, in violation of a restraining order. She found a metal baseball bat in the back seat of the car, which was the same one her husband had used to threaten her in the past.
Despite the woman’s request for information from Tesla, Radford had difficulty obtaining the data needed for the investigation. According to a lawsuit filed by the woman, a Tesla service manager stated that remote access logs were only available within a certain time frame. As automakers develop more advanced features allowing for remote access and location tracking, the potential for these technologies to be used for abusive purposes becomes a concern. Cases of stalking involving vehicle technology have been reported, prompting increased attention from law enforcement, advocates, and policymakers.
The woman later filed a lawsuit against her husband and Tesla, seeking damages for negligence and failure to restrict her husband’s access to the vehicle’s technology despite the restraining order. The woman’s requests to disable her husband’s account and access remote data logging were denied by Tesla, leading to legal action. The lawsuit was eventually settled, with details of the settlement kept undisclosed.
In other cases, individuals have reported incidents of stalking using vehicle technology, prompting concerns about the potential for abuse and inadequate policies to address such issues. As automakers and tech companies continue to introduce new features and products for tracking and remote access, there is a need for clear policies and safeguards to prevent misuse and protect individuals from potential harm.
Source: nypost.com
