Abused wife battles Tesla on tracking tech, but loses
December 19, 2023 – 7:48 AM PST
(Reuters) – In a gripping case that unfolded in San Francisco, police Sergeant David Radford reached out to Tesla in May 2020 for assistance. The request was simple yet urgent: could the automaker provide data on a suspected stalker’s remote access to a Tesla vehicle? The story begins with a woman who walked into the police station, visibly shaken, and reported that her abusive husband was using the technology in their 2016 Tesla Model X to stalk and harass her. The situation took a chilling turn when she discovered a metal baseball bat in the back seat, the same bat her husband had previously used to threaten her.
As technology in cars becomes more advanced, cases of technology-enabled stalking are on the rise. Automakers are adding sophisticated features like location tracking and remote control of functions, which can be exploited by abusers. Divorce lawyers, private investigators, and anti-domestic-violence advocates have all witnessed an increase in such abusive behavior. While companies like Google and Apple have implemented safeguards in their products to address similar concerns with phone spyware or tracking devices, the issue of stalking through car technology remains largely unaddressed.
Although the exact scope of abuse involving car technology is difficult to quantify, Reuters investigated the San Francisco case and another incident involving stalking through Tesla technology. Tesla itself has encountered at least one other case of stalking through its vehicle app. However, due to privacy and security concerns, many attorneys, private investigators, and anti-abuse advocates declined to provide specific details.
While Tesla did not respond to requests for comment, the San Francisco Police Department and Sergeant Radford remained tight-lipped about the investigation. This case sheds light on the complex challenges faced by auto companies and law enforcement when it comes to these technologies. Other automakers also offer similar tracking and remote-access features, prompting the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), a trade group for automakers and suppliers, to acknowledge the need for protections against abuse.
AAI argued against California regulators requiring carmakers to release location or personal data under a new state privacy law, citing spousal violence as a concern. The group emphasized the potential harm that could arise from disclosing location-tracking data to an abuser. While some automakers have taken steps to prevent the misuse of data, such as General Motors allowing drivers to mask their location, the issue of stalking through car technology remains largely unaddressed.
REQUEST DENIED
The San Francisco woman filed a lawsuit against her husband and Tesla, accusing the automaker of negligence for allowing her husband continued access to the car despite a restraining order. She sought monetary damages from Tesla, but the automaker prevailed in the lawsuit. Tesla argued that there was no proof her husband used the car’s technology to stalk her and that the restraining order did not specifically order the company to take action. The woman and her husband settled the lawsuit in 2023, and their divorce case is still ongoing.
NO POLICY
Unlike the San Francisco woman, another victim of stalking through Tesla technology had the ability to change account settings and disconnect the car from the internet. However, Tesla cars only allow one primary account holder, even in cases where multiple individuals co-own the vehicle. This lack of policy and safeguards has left victims vulnerable to abuse.
BAT IN THE VEHICLE
The San Francisco woman’s case revealed the disturbing extent of abuse enabled by car technology. Despite suffering physical and sexual abuse during her marriage, she was unable to remove her husband’s access to the car’s technology because his name remained on the vehicle’s title. The woman reported multiple incidents of her car’s settings being manipulated and sought help from Tesla, but the company claimed it could not remove her husband’s access without a change in ownership. In the end, Tesla successfully defended itself in court, arguing that both the woman and her husband had a right to use the car’s technology.
CONCLUSION
The San Francisco case highlights the urgent need for auto companies to address the potential for abuse through their vehicle technology. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for companies to implement safeguards and policies that protect victims of stalking and domestic violence. Failure to do so not only puts lives at risk but also raises questions about the ethical responsibilities of these companies.
Reporting by Kristina Cooke and Dan Levine; editing by Peter Henderson and Brian Thevenot
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How can automakers strengthen privacy protections and safeguards in car technology to prevent stalking and harassment?
Breach of privacy and abuse through car technology. As cars become more advanced and connected, they offer features that can be exploited by abusers for stalking and harassment. The San Francisco case involving a Tesla vehicle exposed the chilling reality of technology-enabled stalking.
In May 2020, a woman walked into the police station, visibly shaken, reporting that her abusive husband was using their 2016 Tesla Model X to stalk and harass her. The situation took a disturbing turn when she discovered a metal baseball bat in the backseat, the same bat her husband had previously used to threaten her. She reached out to the police for help, and they turned to Tesla for assistance.
The rise of technology-enabled stalking is a concerning trend as automakers incorporate features like location tracking and remote control into their vehicles. Divorce lawyers, private investigators, and anti-domestic-violence advocates have all witnessed an increase in such abusive behavior. While safeguards against phone spyware or tracking devices have been implemented by companies like Google and Apple, the issue of stalking through car technology remains largely unaddressed.
The San Francisco case is not an isolated incident. Reuters investigated another incident involving Tesla technology and discovered that Tesla itself had encountered at least one other case of stalking through its vehicle app. However, due to privacy and security concerns, many attorneys, investigators, and anti-abuse advocates were hesitant to provide specific details.
This case sheds light on the challenges faced by auto companies and law enforcement when it comes to addressing these issues. Other automakers offer similar tracking and remote-access features, which prompted the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), a trade group for automakers and suppliers, to acknowledge the need for protections against abuse.
AAI has argued against California regulators requiring carmakers to release location or personal data under a new state privacy law, citing spousal violence as a concern. The potential harm that could arise from disclosing location-tracking data to an abuser is significant. While some automakers have taken steps to prevent the misuse of data, such as allowing drivers to mask their location, the issue of stalking through car technology remains largely unaddressed.
In the San Francisco case, the woman filed a lawsuit against her husband and Tesla, accusing the automaker of negligence for allowing her husband continued access to the car despite a restraining order. However, Tesla prevailed in the lawsuit, arguing that there was no proof of her husband using the car’s technology to stalk her and that the restraining order did not explicitly order the company to take action. The woman and her husband settled the lawsuit in 2023, and their divorce case is ongoing.
Another victim of stalking through Tesla technology had the ability to change account settings and disconnect the car from the internet. However, Tesla cars only allow one primary account holder, even in cases where multiple individuals co-own the vehicle. This lack of policy and safeguards has left victims vulnerable to abuse.
The San Francisco case serves as a wakeup call for auto companies to address the potential for privacy breaches and abuse through car technology. It is crucial for automakers to develop policies and safeguards that protect individuals from stalking and harassment. The safety and privacy of their customers should be the utmost priority, and technological advancements should not become tools for abuse.
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