Spies Riding Shotgun 353
Slashdot has covered before the proliferation of black boxes - event data recorders - in modern automobiles, that automatically record data about what the car has been doing and make it available after the fact to police, insurance companies, and people suing you - just about everyone except you, in fact. We'll add to that with yet another story about the computerized spy riding shotgun in your new car.
As long as they come with an off switch. (Score:3, Interesting)
Does anyone know if all existing systems such as On-star can be turned off easily by the driver?
Drivecam (Score:5, Interesting)
It's a Drivecam video - it records the last 30 seconds or so of driver video and only saves it if an accident occurs. The guy was probably kicking himself for installing it. It probably killed whatever insurance claim he had.
From TFA (Score:3, Interesting)
So, he knowingly voided his warranty by racing his Miata. He then tries to defraud the manufacturer by filing a false warranty claim (he no longer has a warranty) and HE is the victim? Give me a fucking break.
For those of use who do not intentionally void our warranty, "black box" recording devices should be seen as a positive: overall, the manufacturer will save on fraudulent warrantee repairs, and warrantee coverage can improve.
Disabling? (Score:1, Interesting)
What would happen if I took a nice, powerful magnet and stuck it to the side of their box?
Re:You know what? (Score:3, Interesting)
I wish I could do that here. Unfortunately the roads here aren't even safe when there are no other cars on them. Deer are a real problem here (to the point that it doesn't really have an effect on your insurance premium. The companies just go "oh, another one" and hand over the cash without really penalizing you.)
So speaks the guy who has totaled 2 cars (one of which was only doing 20mph at the time. seriously) from hitting deer. And I've lost count of how many I've managed to avoid.
Just rip them out (Score:2, Interesting)
Would removing the black box cause the car to stop functioning? I mean, we could just replace the box moments before returning it to the service facility. In fact, don't even remove the box, just pull the cables assuming they are not hard-wired. if they are snip a wire or two and make it look like it was damaged.
Re:From TFA (Score:3, Interesting)
All of which will trip the box in an Onstar vehicle.
The DRM of Crash Test Dummies (Score:3, Interesting)
Honestly, I don't mind the fact that they exist... As long as they are only used in the event of a crash and only at your option. I say that above all else because that box is your property, crash or no crash. The information therein is yours to release or not to release and should be covered as the 5th amendment would be used to protect your innocence. This device cannot run a-ground on the same DRM issues that affect consoles, software and music-- You know, the products you bought but don't actually own? That information is yours, recorded on a device you bought inside the car you own.
Now granted, it may very well be the only thing that proves your innocence. That said, story does have the right idea, however. These things are way too prone to abuse to be used without the proper safeguards in place.
Constitutional rights... man! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Insurance (Score:2, Interesting)
b) if you are, you also happen to be using the roads of the people making you get the insurance (the state) (and if you thought that meant you were a part owner, or had rights, bub, that sort of thinking ended in most places before Roosevelt or the Russian Revolution...
c) to disabuse slashdotters of the idea that they can't access the same data, pshaw. Go to Autozone and get yourself an OBDII reader. There is more there than just your sensor trouble codes.