Elon Musk reportedly wanted to use Tesla’s internal driver monitoring camera to observe users’ driving habits in order to use the footage as evidence in autopilot-related lawsuits, according to a biography written by Walter Isaacson and reported by Electrek.
The biography reveals that Musk wanted to use the camera’s footage, without the drivers’ knowledge, to defend Tesla Inc (TSLA) during post-crash investigations.
The cameras were first introduced in Tesla’s Model 3 in 2017 and later in S/X models, but they were not activated until 2021. They are now used to ensure that drivers remain focused on the road while using Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. Musk, however, hoped to use the camera for cabin monitoring, especially if Tesla’s Robotaxi vision becomes a reality.
According to the biography, Musk argued that most accidents were caused by bad drivers rather than faulty software. He suggested that data from the car’s cameras could be used to determine driver error, but this idea faced resistance from privacy advocates within the company.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating Tesla’s Autopilot system, with a focus on driver monitoring safeguards. The biography suggests that Musk’s main motive for wanting to use the cameras was not to improve safety or enhance the system, but to protect Tesla and himself from lawsuits and investigations.
Despite Musk’s desire for surveillance, Tesla’s current warning to drivers states that the camera data does not leave the vehicle unless the owner chooses to share it and is not used for identity verification.
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