For any lovers of high-speed car chases, I have some bad news for you – those might be a thing of the past, at least in Europe. The European Union is reportedly developing a remote stopping device that enable police to remotely disable devices with the click of a button, which would cut off the supply of fuel and switch off the ignition.
The aim of the program is to bring dangerous high-speed chases to an end and a part of efforts to enhance police cooperation across the EU. Statewatch, an organization that monitors the state and civil liberties in the EU, released the document of the technology, saying it poses a serious threat to civil liberties.
With remote stopping devices, police officers working from a computer screen in central headquarters could disable vehicles – a “game over” type of button.
This is what the Statewatch document reads:
“Cars on the run have proven to be dangerous for citizens. Criminal offenders (from robbery to a simple theft) will take risks to escape after a crime. In most cases the police are unable to chase the criminal due to the lack of efficient means to stop the vehicle safely. This project starts with the knowledge that insufficient technology tools are available to be used as part of a proportionate response. This project will work on a technological solution that can be a ‘build in standard’ for all cars that enter the European market.”
The plus side is this technology would make it easier for police to capture criminals and reduce any damage to cities or harm to people. The downside is all Big Brother-related -- invasion of privacy, lack of freedom and control and lack of evidence are all concerns that make this a question of civil liberties.
Until now, the movement toward connected cars has been mostly focused on M2M-enabled safety features and infotainment systems. Even the concept of self-driving cars always involves a driver inside the vehicle, and is about a car taking control – not someone else in a remote location controlling the vehicle. But this technology also highlights security concerns raised about the IoT. As more devices become connected, our privacy, control and security are at risk. If the police can remotely control a car, who says hackers or criminals can’t?
Although the technology is scheduled for a six-year timetable, other reports say the program is in very early stages and is unlikely it will be implemented by the end of the decade.
Image via Los Angeles Times
Edited by Cassandra Tucker