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The Automotive ‘Black Box Data’ Tipping Point
Since 1996, when automakers first installed ‘black box’ event data recorders (EDRs) in cars and light trucks vehicle owners have had zero means to safeguard access to crash data.
Today, millions of vehicles have EDRs, yet consumer awareness of how they work is very low.
Simply put, they collect and store data used for post-crash analysis and evidence in legal cases.
EDRs are seldom mentioned during the vehicle purchase.
The fact that they exist is mandated by federal regulation but they are buried deep in the owner’s manual.
Recently, in Mobley v. The State, a Georgia Supreme Court opinion tipped the balance of essential vehicle security towards vehicle owners.
This 4TH AMENDMENT / EDR case was about law enforcement downloading data without owner knowledge or permission at a crash site.
Mobley prevailed.
However, still lacking is regulation or legislation requiring automakers to provide adequate protections.
Motorist’s wrongfully assume that vehicle cybersecurity issues are somebody else’s problem to solve, maybe the automakers or the insurance companies.
Although Congress asserts in the 2015 Driver Privacy Act that the vehicle owner…
