Thanks to the advancement of technology, today everything is more intelligent telephones, sound systems, and televisions are "smart" versions of themselves.
car even today have been transformed into "smart cars" to the integration of recent technological innovations. Some of the potential benefits of these ideas are interesting, but they also cause some consumer advocates to trigger alarms.
Car manufacturers have long been gathering information about the different operations and functions in cars, but this information has mainly been used to help manufacturers improve their designs and safety features based on habits drivers.
But today, the cars start coming equipped with systems without Internet connectivity wire, applications, videos, and other features that turn them into virtual -Data the mines. The possible uses of this information are almost limitless.
Imagine your car detecting your tires are wearing unevenly. It could send a message to your dealer to indicate it is time to rotate the tires and deliver you a message prompting you to put in your car for this service.
Or, imagine you are driving on a long trip and your car sends a signal that it's time to be on your past behavior or the time of day based on the lunch. You receive a message informing you that one of your favorite restaurants is coming in a few miles, giving you time to adjust course and a break for a meal.
Although these simple ideas seem interesting and offer a lot of potential, there are also privacy concerns that were raised at the prospect of these smart cars entering the market. The biggest concern is that there is little federal or state laws governing the information that can be collected, or how it can be shared or used.
A new wave of intrusion
As a society, we too soon got used to have private companies, developers and marketers have access to our information . We have learned to accept that no matter what we do today, it will be a mining company our information for its own purposes.
Of course, it can be nice to receive a message from a dealer or mechanic informing us that our cars recognize an issue that must be addressed. It might also be helpful to have a list of food stops coming without having to be requested whenever we are hungry.
Where it gets hard is when the police and other law enforcement agencies to tap into your "smart" car database using the same technology.
If you stopped when you read this and began to wonder exactly what the law enforcement agencies could meet your personal information, you are not alone, but you are also not in the majority. But then again, most people do not consider that the maneuvers of the common traffic, like going 60 mph in one mph zone 55 or rolling through stop signs, are illegal.
Imagine weaving through traffic because you're late. If your car has a smart camera system on board, it is possible that the application of the law could check on your driving habits, including your top speed and your exact location, to issue a ticket . It seems excessive, but with the increasing inclusion of chip technology in cars, it is not entirely out of the question either.
The connection starts
Eleven percent of cars made last year are connected to the Internet. More than 60 percent of all vehicles to be manufactured in 2017 will be connected to the Internet. In North America and Europe, it is expected that the percentage to reach as high as 80 percent according to the Washington Post.
This is an incredible percentage. But without laws to respond to this new wave of connectivity, which knows what the limits are on what government agencies can do with the information that these systems meet?
worst case scenarios
In the worst case scenarios governments, private companies, and other people might use these data to monitor your driving habits. Insurance companies could spy on you while driving: recording data on speed, braking and other habits to determine a rate "just" for your car insurance
The police across the country could just type. each registered vehicle that has this capability and send speeding whenever you break the law. They might even use onboard cameras to see who is driving.
Federal agencies could follow your vehicle if they have suspicions about you, and if you cross state lines in the commission of a crime, for example, buying fireworks a state and get them to another, they would have all the powers they need to stop and stop.
This may seem far fetched to those who give their government agencies the benefit of the doubt, of course. But the reality is: the capabilities are there
But beyond the potential for government intrusion, there are hackers and criminals .. If your car is connected to the Internet and, really, the systems iT control Board about all facets of the car of the operation, why would not an experienced hacker can break into the computer of your car and stop the engine whenever they want ?
You could be driving home from work, deny a lonely road to save time and become the victim of auto theft without being able to do anything about it. These thieves could even reach your vehicle while you're shopping at the mall, send a signal to your smart car to open the doors and start the engine for quick and easy getaway. They could easily use the information stored in the system of your car to find out where you live.
Some might think that this is an alarmist position, and yes, some of these scenarios point to possibilities that are not likely. Unfortunately, recent revelations about the PRISM program have not inspired much faith in the ability of government to allow private information remains private. The bottom line is that, for now, there is no sweeping law that determines how information generated by smart cars will be used and protected.
Smart cars will transform our lives, and most of the time it will be for good. But it is also a good idea to remain vigilant about the types of information can be shared, and with whom. Always keep in mind how important it is for you, your identity and your rights protects any kind of technological innovations come in the next corner.