FCC wants help protecting domestic violence victims from car tech
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission wants feedback on how it can better protect domestic violence survivors from stalking and abuse carried out through internet-connected technology in cars.
The public comment window is open through May 23, and responses are starting to come in.
“We need to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, survivor advocacy organizations, and technology companies to develop protocols and guidelines for responding to incidents of domestic abuse involving connected vehicles,” Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-mich., said in a comment shared Monday.
The FCC’S call for suggestions and information comes after it worked over the past two years to implement the Safe Connections Act of 2022, legislation meant to stop abusers from using shared phone plans to track their victims. The agency wants to go further after recent reports describing how abusers can use remote access features — like GPS tracking, climate controls and even honking the car horn — to continue their harassment.
“No survivor of domestic violence and abuse should have to choose between giving up their car and allowing themselves to be stalked and harmed by those who can access its connectivity and data,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworce said.
The FCC officially filed a notice of proposed rulemaking on April 8. The notice is a precursor to new regulations — or perhaps new legislation in Congress — that would lay out what kind of safeguards automakers and software providers need to adopt.
In January, Rosenworcel wrote a letter to nine large automakers asking for details about existing connected car technology and plans to support people who have been people harassed by domestic abusers.
She cited a New York Times report from December about a woman stalked by her ex-husband using Mercedes-benz connected vehicle technology as the motivation for sending the letter. Reuters published a story earlier that month about harassment done using Tesla’s mobile app.
Automakers, software companies and trade groups have submitted suggestions to the FCC.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing all of the major automakers in the United States except for Tesla, suggested Congress pass new legislation to supplement the Safe Connections Act.
The alliance’s plan would require service providers to terminate or disable connected vehicle accounts associated with domestic abusers within five days business days of receiving a valid request.
If a provider cannot terminate or disable the account because of a technological limitation, the provider would need to notify the requestor and provide information on other potential solutions — such as setting up a new account.
The Detroit Three automakers, in response to Rosenworcel’s letter, each detailed their options for turning off connected vehicle services.
Ford Motor Co. said it offers in-vehicle touch-screen options that allow customers to disable some or all connected vehicle systems. That includes an option to dissociate a vehicle from Ford’s Fordpass and Lincoln Way mobile apps.
Stellantis NV wrote that customers may request the deactivation of connected services, including location services, for connected vehicles.
General Motors Co. said it has a similar system through Onstar, its subsidiary focused on in-vehicle communications, remote services, emergency services and more.