[nitrogen]

I think the implication is that researchers aren't discussing the possibility of someone else using their system to take control of your car. If you are security conscious, and your car can be controlled externally, you might want to assume that it will be controlled externally until you can prove otherwise.

Look at it this way: if driverless cars are widely adopted in Country A, and the new Country A government decides to go rogue and oppressive on its citizens, the rogue government could prevent people from getting to protests by shutting their cars down remotely.

[anigbrowl]

Most protests take place in cities, where one can walk. What you describe is as 'first world problem.' In repressive countries, the government just sends out some troops to establish a checkpoint and stop cars by pointing guns at the drivers. No special technology required.

[nitrogen]

Let's suppose "Country A" is a country that is subject to first world problems, and that many of Country A's angry citizens are in suburbs and semi-rural areas within driving distance of ideal protest zones, but they want to express their anger in person.

[tomkarlo]

There's no need for fancy engineering to prevent driving to a protest. Most cities already have traffic control mechanisms in place - bridges, toll booths, tunnels - that are far simpler and harder to work around. I believe New York City has shut down various passages into Manhattan in response to threats or protests over the past few years.

[nitrogen]

Sure, but it's significantly easier for a small group of people (a government, hackers, whoever) to remotely disable someone's car than it is to mobilize enough police to have the same effect. Believe me, I want self-driving cars. But I want my car under my control, even if I'm not literally at the wheel.

[tomkarlo]

I'd take issue with your definition of "easy". Even if we had self-driving cars today, it would still be a matter of a phone call to get major traffic arteries closed, whereas there's no guarantee that any group of individuals could work out a way to turn off the cars. You're comparing a known, implemented process with a hypothetical possibility. Similarly, terrorists _could_ conceivably hack their way into a traffic control system, but it's a lot more likely they'd simply try to take over a plane with brute force.

This is similar to "tin hat" theories: they favor the dramatic and insidious, but unlikely, fear over the much more imminent and mundane problem.

I'm more than willing to give up the right to absolute control over my vehicle in return for better safety and faster commutes. The lives saved in both time and accidents would far outweigh the remote possibility that it would be used as an instrument of oppression. Maybe folks can control their own vehicle when off of major arteries, but be required to give up control on heavily shared routes (the same as they have to when taking public transportation.)