I think people are missing the point on the privacy issue here. The issue surrounding privacy is not the 'black box' and how it is used to save lives. It has to do with what this technology can lead to, and the potential to install it without the owners knowledge. If the gov't decided to make this mandatory and stuck a GPS chip in every one they could track you anywhere you go. What's next - cameras in your living room? Some argue that 'if you haven't done anything wrong there's nothing to worry about' but those people might as well ask Big Brother to install chips in their head right now. Again, it's not the specific technology or the automobile scenario that is worrying to privacy advocates - it is the standard we are setting with these decisions, and how they gradually reduce the freedom of privacy that people currently enjoy. Are we heading to a future where people have been slowly socialized to think it's OK for the gov't to monitor us at all times, wherever we go? Hopefully determine a nice compromise that both saves lives and respects people's right to privacy.
Slashdot Mirror
I think people are missing the point on the privacy issue here. The issue surrounding privacy is not the 'black box' and how it is used to save lives. It has to do with what this technology can lead to, and the potential to install it without the owners knowledge. If the gov't decided to make this mandatory and stuck a GPS chip in every one they could track you anywhere you go. What's next - cameras in your living room? Some argue that 'if you haven't done anything wrong there's nothing to worry about' but those people might as well ask Big Brother to install chips in their head right now. Again, it's not the specific technology or the automobile scenario that is worrying to privacy advocates - it is the standard we are setting with these decisions, and how they gradually reduce the freedom of privacy that people currently enjoy. Are we heading to a future where people have been slowly socialized to think it's OK for the gov't to monitor us at all times, wherever we go? Hopefully determine a nice compromise that both saves lives and respects people's right to privacy.