P.I.: Mandatory Black Box in Autos
PRIVATE EYE: Safety versus Privacy
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended November 9th that data recorders in vehicles should be mandatory by September 2008. The black box would record 42 data elements including speed, brake pressure, seat belt usage, and air bag deployment.
I have very mixed emotions about this decision. Data recorders in aircraft have resulted in safety changes. Recorders in vehicles offer the same potential to society and will greatly aid accident investigations. That is good news.
The bad news is the potential for abuse. What legal protection of the data is offered to the individual? If a vehicle is stopped for a traffic violation, say a burned out light, will the government have access to the data recorder to see if you have committed moving violations? How long before the recorder is fitted with a RFID device so it read by others as you drive? I know the old argument if you are not doing anything wrong why should you care, because it infringes on your liberties.
Where is the balance between safety and privacy? This is a tough one that I am still weighing the data.
What is worse paranoia or apathy?
No more speed I’m almost there
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended November 9th that data recorders in vehicles should be mandatory by September 2008. The black box would record 42 data elements including speed, brake pressure, seat belt usage, and air bag deployment.
I have very mixed emotions about this decision. Data recorders in aircraft have resulted in safety changes. Recorders in vehicles offer the same potential to society and will greatly aid accident investigations. That is good news.
The bad news is the potential for abuse. What legal protection of the data is offered to the individual? If a vehicle is stopped for a traffic violation, say a burned out light, will the government have access to the data recorder to see if you have committed moving violations? How long before the recorder is fitted with a RFID device so it read by others as you drive? I know the old argument if you are not doing anything wrong why should you care, because it infringes on your liberties.
Where is the balance between safety and privacy? This is a tough one that I am still weighing the data.
What is worse paranoia or apathy?
No more speed I’m almost there
Gotta keep cool now, gotta take care
Last car to pass here I go
And the line of cars goes down real slow
- from the song "Radar Love" performed by Golden Earring, words by George Kooymans and Barry Hay (c) 1973
posted by Quinqube at 14:30
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