On April 28, 2016, four members of the U.S. House of Representatives launched a bipartisan caucus dedicated to addressing security and safety concerns raised by new innovation in connected and autonomous vehicles (or self-driving cars), including the risk of car hacking. According to the lawmakers, the Smart Transportation Caucus will encourage the development and deployment of existing and next-generation technologies, including connected and automated vehicle safety technologies, smart infrastructure, advanced traffic and freight management systems, real-time transit, and parking technologies.
“The future of the auto industry is changing at a rapid pace, and we are committed to keeping the U.S. in the driver’s seat,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), who represents the suburbs of Detroit. “The creation of this bipartisan caucus will help educate Members about the innovation that is happening in the United States, identify policy areas that need to be improved to support the development of new technologies, and boost collaboration to ensure the U.S. always maintains its competitive edge.” The Caucus also plans to coordinate relevant stakeholders in the federal government, the auto industry, the communications industry, transportation safety advocates, cybersecurity groups, and the privacy sector to engage in debate on policies and priorities resulting from the rapid innovation in vehicles.
In addition to Rep. Dingell, the Caucus was formed by Representatives Joe Barton (R-TX), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Ted Lieu (D-CA). Rep. Barton’s 6th Congressional district in Texas is home to one of the country’s largest automobile manufacturing plants. Rep. Wilson’s 2nd Congressional district in South Carolina is one of America’s leading exporter of cars and tires. And Rep. Lieu has been a vocal cybersecurity advocate in his first term and recently co-sponsored with Wilson the Security and Privacy (SPY) Car Study Act, a bill introduced last November that would launch a cross-sector investigation into vehicle cybersecurity. The bill is similar to the Security and Privacy in Your Car Act, or SPY Car Act, introduced in the Senate in July, which would establish federal standards aimed at protecting vehicle owners from hacking attacks and secret data tracking.
Since the introduction of those bills, two announcements have further elevated the concerns associated with connected and autonomous cars. In March, the FBI and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a warning that newer vehicles that are more reliant on wireless technology are “increasingly vulnerable” to hackers looking to steal driver data or even take control of a car. And, in a report released on April 25, the Government Accountability Office urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to clearly define its role in combating real-world cyberattacks on automobiles.
Reporter, Drew Crawford, Washington, DC, +1 202 626 5512, dcrawford@kslaw.com.
