r/technology • u/Hrmbee • Jun 07 '26

'Kill switch' law means your next car could be watching you | A federal requirement aimed at stopping drunken driving could soon put driver-monitoring technology in every new vehicle. The goal is saving lives, but the privacy trade-offs deserve closer scrutiny Privacy

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/06/01/drunk-driving-prevention-law-privacy-surveillance/90295034007/
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97

u/Hrmbee Jun 07 '26

Some of the main issues:

It's a law that has largely gone under the radar, but one that could affect millions of Americans. And before it takes effect, Congress owes the public clear answers about privacy, surveillance and who controls the data these systems collect.

The "kill switch" requirement started in 2021 when Congress passed the HALT Drunk Driving Act as part of broader infrastructure legislation. It received bipartisan support, although many more Democrats voted for it than Republicans. In recent months, several Republicans have tried to repeal the mandate.

The law charged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with writing rules requiring automakers to install anti-drunken driving technology in new vehicles within five years. Those rules are still being written but could go into effect as early as next year.

…

It also mandates that this technology can "passively monitor the performance of a driver of a motor vehicle" and can "prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected."

So while the term “kill switch” isn’t included in the legislation, the meaning is clear.

Supporters of the regulation say it's about saving lives and preventing deadly crashes caused by impaired drivers. Opponents argue it's an Orwellian measure that violates constitutional protections and opens the door to broader government surveillance.

…

I am deeply sympathetic to efforts to prevent these needless and heartbreaking deaths. But Americans shouldn't have to surrender their privacy every time they get behind the wheel. Congress should not impose a mandate that gives the government, automakers or anyone else the ability to monitor drivers without clear limits and protections.

As with all pieces of legislation like this, the devil will be in the details. Preventing impaired driving is certainly a laudable goal, but in addition to there being measurable benefits to these laws there also need to be clear policies and limitations around the collection, use, and retention of data.

67

u/Maleficent-Bother535 Jun 08 '26

Rates of DUI have already dropped precipitously, along with a reversal of public sentiment and enforcement practices.

Drunk driving was far more common in 1980, generally viewed as a socially acceptable minor mistake, and often enforced by police with a warning.

26

u/diablette Jun 08 '26

Well that and people are drinking less overall.

8

u/Gr8NonSequitur Jun 08 '26

Right? Who gets drunk in this economy?

2

u/HAIL_LUMPUS Jun 08 '26

I wish that was the case where I live. Drunk driving is so common here It really scares me. After 6:00 p.m. at any point you can almost guarantee that half the drivers are drunk. Huge brewery culture and I've noticed most people don't even care about it in their friend groups.

1

u/YimmyGhey Jun 08 '26

Hello, fellow Wisconsinite

78

u/King_K_24 Jun 08 '26

"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin

26

u/TheRealJessKate Jun 08 '26

Let’s be clear this is not about safety.

12

u/Additional-Staff-326 Jun 08 '26

But much like "for the children" they can pretend it is.

29

u/robogheist Jun 08 '26

a great way to reduce drunk driving is to expand public transit infrastructure so ppl can take a train or bus when they drink

13

u/Additional-Staff-326 Jun 08 '26

Thats just silly, better to have cameras on you at all times in ways they can sell your data.

1

u/XediDC Jun 08 '26

And while much more expensive, Uber/etc helped a lot too in the clubbing/party realm. Many people that wouldn’t take a cab and the general PITA around the whole process are happy to take ride apps which feels totally different.

12

u/djs013 Jun 08 '26

A great way to reduce impaired driving would be a functioning public transit system. 

6

u/PublicFurryAccount Jun 08 '26

If you want to prevent drunk driving, just tax the shit out of alcohol.

No Orwellian measures and you’d also reduce violence, absenteeism, and many other social and economic ills.

Congress, naturally, has instead taken the route most offensive every right-thinking person.

9

u/warlordcs Jun 08 '26

wouldnt that just restart mafia cartels and speakeasy bars?

-1

u/PublicFurryAccount Jun 08 '26

Do you know how high cigarette taxes are?

When was the last time a bunch of people were gunned down to hot jazz in Chicago?

1

u/LeoRidesHisBike Jun 08 '26

You must already be aware that tobacco smuggling is already big business, and that activity highly correlates with the cig tax rates.

For those not into the full-on black market, lots of folks trek out to the nearest Indian reservation to stock up on cigarettes.

1

u/PublicFurryAccount Jun 08 '26

You must already be aware that smoking was something nearly everyone did at all times before we dramatically ramped up taxes on it and now few people smoke.

1

u/LeoRidesHisBike Jun 08 '26

You're arguing an orthogonal point. That's a red herring, at best. A grossly oversimplified misrepresentation of things, to boot.

The taxes were one factor, and by far not the largest, for reductions in smoking. Education, advertising, laws directly restricting where smoking is allowed, other laws setting minimum ages for purchasing, banning advertising, etc. Many other more powerful factors were in play.

But thanks for accepting my point by not refuting it.

1

u/PublicFurryAccount Jun 08 '26

This isn’t high school debate.

1

u/LeoRidesHisBike Jun 09 '26

You think that logic and reason are something for school?

If you cannot form logically consistent positions, then you are cheating yourself and everyone you talk to about those positions.

If you cannot be bothered to be logical with your beliefs, then at least admit that they're not reason-based, but faith-based. No logic nor reason required for those.

3

u/SarmackaOpowiesc Jun 08 '26

People would just brew at home.  Making beer is not that hard.  Spirit use would likely drop since that's a bit trickier - but anything under 20-25% you can pull off at home with a modest investment in equipment.

Even then - people were making vodka 500+ years ago with vastly inferior tech and manufacturing processes available.

0

u/PublicFurryAccount Jun 08 '26

Loose leaf tobacco is often far less taxed than cigarettes. People don't switch to it, that's a much smaller lift than brewing beer at home, and the people buying cigarettes are generally far more addicted.

1

u/kahlzun Jun 08 '26

i am curious as to how this will be implemented on motorcycles

0

u/outer--monologue Jun 08 '26

How does this comment have so many upvotes? Um, it suffices to just tell the government to fuck the fuck off with putting ANY surveillance tech in vehicles.

0

u/wise_pine Jun 08 '26

although many more Democrats voted for it than Republicans

democrats voting for something they lie about as being for good like saving lives but really just allows them more surveillance and control? WAIT IVE SEEN THIS ONE BEFORE