New EU regulations require driver-monitoring cameras in all cars, raising serious privacy concerns about data handling and retention.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: As of July 7, 2026, all new cars sold in the European Union (EU) must be equipped with Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems, which include cameras aimed at drivers’ faces, supposedly to monitor distraction levels. If the system believes the driver has looked away from the road for more than 3.5 seconds at highway speed, or six seconds at lower speeds, it will harass them with an alert involving lights, sounds, or vibration. It turns itself on at speeds as low as 12 miles per hour, and cannot be turned off.
📰 DETAIL: The ADDW system uses infrared cameras to track drivers’ eye movements, issuing alerts if they look away from the road for too long. While supposedly intended to reduce accidents, the system’s sensitivity and lack of clarity on data handling have raised privacy concerns. The regulations mandate that data should not leave the vehicle, but there is no independent audit to ensure compliance, and it is unclear how the data is stored or for how long.
🎯 IMPACT: The lack of transparency and potential for data misuse posed by ADDW systems poses significant privacy risks, echoing past incidents where driver data was shared or sold without consent.
👀 FLASHBACK: In 2024, several automakers were found to have shared driver behavior data with brokers, leading to significantly increased insurance premiums, highlighting the potential risks of data misuse.
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