By Senator Alex Antic
On 7 July, a new European Union requirement came into force requiring new vehicles sold in Europe to implement “Advanced Driver Distraction Warning” technology.
These systems are essentially designed to monitor whether a driver is keeping their eyes on the road, meaning sensors and software constantly monitor the driver’s face and eye movements and warn them when the system decides that they are distracted.
Under this system, buying a new car means accepting technology that constantly watches your movements and analyses where you are looking while you drive. To me, this represents a profound shift in the way we interact with our vehicles and marks another step towards the acceptance of constant monitoring and surveillance.
Now, you might say, “but that’s only happening in Europe.” However, the Australian government’s own National Connected and Automated Vehicle Action Plan provides for the development or updating of Australian Design Rules, including rules for driver-monitoring systems.
It states that, wherever possible, Australian vehicle standards will be aligned with relevant international standards. The Action Plan does not itself mandate driver-monitoring technology, but it shows that Australian regulators are actively considering standards in this area and that regulatory developments overseas are likely to influence the rules ultimately adopted here.
So, is the European model likely to be the template for what happens in other parts of the world like Australia down the track and is that the tip of the privacy iceberg as vehicles collect more and more data?
Well, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations has recently considered a Proposal for a new UN Regulation on Advanced Driver Distraction Warning System, which was based on a draft proposal submitted by “experts from Australia”.
Despite the overtures about safety and privacy of these systems, Australians are certainly within their rights to be wary. I have previously discussed my concerns about vehicle data collection on my podcast, which you can watch here:
Drivers should not be forced to accept these systems if they want to purchase a new car. However, that appears to be the direction in which we are headed.
Road safety is obviously very important, but so are privacy and the choice to voluntarily opt in or out of these technologies.
I am tired of constantly hearing that such measures are necessary “for your safety”, and of important questions affecting the lives of Australians seemingly being settled overseas ahead of time by globalist entities rather than at home.