Lawsuit Targets Hacking Potential for Ford, GM and Toyota Vehicles
Ford, General Motors and Toyota have misled customers by hiding the possibility that hackers could gain control of computer systems aboard their vehicles, claims a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in a U.S.
#legal
Ford, General Motors and Toyota have misled customers by hiding the possibility that hackers could gain control of computer systems aboard their vehicles, claims a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in northern California.
The lawsuit, brought by Dallas-based Stanley Law Group, charges the three carmakers with fraud, false advertising and violation of California consumer protection statutes. The group suggests the companies be ordered to recall all vehicles equipped with "these dangerous electronic systems."
The lawsuit points to tests by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2013 and a more recent demonstration by CBS's 60 Minutes television show. They illustrate how control of a car's accelerator, brakes and electric steering could be seized by a hacker.
The complaint also cites last month's Tracking and Hacking report by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), which complains that carmakers polled by the senator's office appear unprepared for the threat of hacking and unauthorized vehicle tracking.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Tesla’s Autopilot Feature Deemed Partly to Blame in Fatal Crash
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has concluded that Tesla Inc.’s semi-autonomous Autopilot feature was partly to blame for a crash 15 months ago that killed one of the carmaker’s customers.
-
U.S. Justice Dept. Asks VW to Delay Diesel Cheating Report
The U.S. Dept. of Justice has asked Volkswagen AG not to release findings of an independent probe into the German carmaker's diesel emission cheating scandal.
-
Ex-FCA Official Pleads Guilty in Labor Training Fund Scandal
Alphons Iacobelli, a former head of labor relations for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV in the U.S., has pleaded guilty of stealing millions of dollars from an employee training fund.