NEW YORK — The modern vehicle is increasingly becoming a source of surveillance, as exemplified by Tesla’s comprehensive data collection following a recent explosion involving one of its Cybertrucks. Privacy advocates express mixed feelings about the extent to which automotive companies are intruding on personal privacy as vehicles evolve into sophisticated technological platforms capable of continuous monitoring.
The incident highlighted concerns regarding privacy rights and data access. “While having data available can be crucial for law enforcement in apprehending criminals, the question remains: who else has access to it?” pondered Jodi Daniels, the CEO of Red Clover Advisors, a privacy consulting firm. “Where do we draw the line?”
Modern vehicles are not just equipped with navigation tools; they often sync with personal devices to access an array of sensitive information, including contacts, text messages, and call logs. Following the Cybertruck explosion filled with fireworks outside the Trump International Hotel, Tesla quickly gathered data that aided police investigations. Within hours of the New Year’s Day blast, which resulted in the driver being critically injured and seven others harmed, Tesla traced the vehicle’s route from Denver to Las Vegas and determined that explosives were the cause of the fire, not a fault in the truck itself.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill expressed gratitude for Tesla’s cooperation, stating to reporters, “I have to thank Elon Musk, specifically. He provided us with extensive data.”
However, the level of surveillance raised alarm bells for some experts. David Choffnes, executive director of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern University, remarked, “It highlights the extensive surveillance that can occur. While it aids in investigations, it poses risks of potential misuse by the companies involved.”
In a notable example, General Motors faced legal action in August after allegations surfaced that it sold the data of 1.8 million drivers to insurers without securing consent. Additionally, cars fitted with cameras for self-driving features introduce further privacy issues. Tesla was scrutinized after reports revealed that between 2019 and 2022, employees shared sensitive videos, including footage of road rage and other private moments.
Tesla did not respond to requests for details on its privacy policies, but the company asserts on its website that it adheres to strict protocols to protect the identity and information of its customers. A statement read, “No one but you will know about your activities or location, and your information is safeguarded.”
Auto analyst Sam Abuelsamid from Telemetry Insight noted that while Tesla’s data practices may not be particularly worse than those of other manufacturers, the issues surrounding customer data privacy remain pressing. “This is one of the significant ethical dilemmas we face with connected vehicles,” he said. “It’s essential for consumers to maintain control over their data.”
Tensions escalated when the Cybertruck began to smoke and subsequently ignited near the entrance of Trump’s hotel, just hours after another vehicle associated with the peer-to-peer rental service Turo was involved in a deadly incident in New Orleans, where it struck a crowd, resulting in 15 fatalities. The Las Vegas police promptly issued an investigation announcement.
“The fire is extinguished,” the police department reported on the social media platform X, a company also owned by Musk. “Please avoid the area.” Following the incident, Tesla’s leadership initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances. Musk later shared on X, “The whole Tesla senior team is reviewing this matter right now and will provide updates as we uncover more details.”
In the hours following the explosion, Tesla successfully reconstructed Livelsberger’s travels spanning five days and four states, using data from his recharging stops in locations such as Monument, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Flagstaff, Arizona.
At present, there are no federal regulations governing the collection and sharing of automotive data akin to those imposed on banks and healthcare providers. Instead, state laws are patchy, focusing largely on general data privacy. Daniels believes that the evolution of technology necessitates new national legislation regarding the dissemination of vehicle data. “While I believe law enforcement should have access to data to expedite investigations, we must uphold the right to privacy,” she stated.
