Science / Technology

24/7 surveillance? Remote kill-switches? Welcome to the future of the automobile.

Countere By PHB,
Tags
big brother
smart cars

Artificial intelligence is already an insurgent in the most sacred of household products, but by the year 2027, it will fully invade the civilian automobile. One will no longer need to become lost in the pages of dystopian literature to imagine a world where deeply entrenched bureaucratic forces have the power to disable any motorized vehicle at any time. This move will be implemented under the guise of public safety and fighting drunk driving. Born of supposed social necessity, these forces will make a push to restrict freedom of movement through AI-powered vehicle monitoring technology. 

Your car will have a “remote kill switch”—the law has already mandated it. It is only a matter of time.

Section 24220: The Beginning of the End

Section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed into law through bipartisan approval by the US government in November of 2021, snuck in a requirement for car manufacturers to install remote kill switches and "advanced impaired driving technology” that will “prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected.” This technology will allow vehicles to be remotely controlled or disabled through the decision of AI or an actual human actor.

Section 24220 mandates that the US Secretary of Transportation establish this requirement no later than November 15, 2024. After that, car manufacturers have three years to fully comply. All new cars manufactured for sale in the United States by the year 2027 will be equipped with technology that will passively monitor the impairment of the driver through various sensors, such as:

  • Driving performance monitoring systems that monitor the vehicle movement using cameras and sensors that are outside the vehicle, such as lane departure warning and attention assist;

  • Systems that monitor the driver’s head and eyes, typically using a camera or other sensors that are inside the vehicle;

  • Alcohol detection systems that use sensors to determine whether a driver is drunk and then prevent the vehicle from moving.