Two lawmakers penned a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Thursday questioning whether they’ve been notified or plan to address cyber vulnerabilities and dangers to public safety posed by the increasing use of internet-connected cars on American roads.
In their letter, Senators Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., raise concerns from a recent Consumer Watchdog report that suggests car manufacturers have made investors and shareholders aware of the risks associated with connected vehicles, but they have yet to disclose that critical information to the general public. The report, which was produced over five months in collaboration with car industry technologists, alleges all top 2020 cars have connections that are vulnerable to potentially detrimental “fleet wide attacks.”
“We are concerned that consumers are purchasing internet-connected vehicles without sufficient safety warnings and write to inquire about NHTSA’s knowledge of any cyber vulnerabilities, as well as what actions NHTSA is taking to address these issues,” the lawmakers wrote.
According to the watchdog report, about 50 million internet-connected cars operate on U.S. roadways currently and two-thirds of all new cars will boast features and systems that connect to the internet by 2022. The senators, who are both members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and also recently reintroduced the Security and Privacy in Your Car Act, said the rise in computerized vehicles will also usher in new risks to citizens’ safety.
“Most alarmingly, connected vehicles can potentially be hacked and remotely controlled by malicious actors, creating risks not only to the lives o ..
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