Car tracking can enable domestic abuse. Why turning it off is easier said than done

In summary

Introduction

Having a restraining order against your former partner and a judge granting you possession of a family car should be enough to get a car manufacturer to turn off location tracking, right?

Wrong.

That scenario has happened to domestic abuse survivors CalMatters spoke to and the law as written hasn’t been enough to help.

Abusive partners increasingly use technology to exercise control, monitor, and continue to abuse their victims. A person with remote access to a vehicle via smartphone app can turn a car on or off, record video, lock or unlock the doors, and track a car in real time or see where the car has been in the past.

The Problem with Internet-Connected Cars

Apple AirTags are notoriously used by stalkers and abusers for tracking, but internet-connected cars can do the same without a driver’s knowledge, and summarily do a poor job of protecting people’s privacy. An analysis of 25 car brands released by Mozilla Foundation last fall gave them the worst privacy and security grades of any product ever reviewed by the San Francisco-based nonprofit.

Legislative Solutions

To protect domestic violence survivors from tech-enabled violence, California lawmakers are considering a trio of bills this month:

• Senate Bill 1394 by Sen. Dave Min, an Irvine Democrat, would end tracking of vehicles owned by domestic violence survivors who get a restraining order and require automakers to clearly indicate when location tracking is on.
• SB 1000 by Democratic Sens. Angelique Ashby of Sacramento and Susan Rubio of West Covina would deny abusers, following a request by a survivor, access to devices that can connect to the internet.
• Assembly Bill 3139 by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, a La Mesa Democrat, would allow survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking to immediately end tracking or remote control of a vehicle even if the vehicle isn’t registered in their name.

All three bills passed judiciary committees last week. A letter by cosponsors of SB 1394 sent to the Senate Judiciary committee earlier this month said “a legislative response is needed because survivors’ requests to sever their abusers’ remote vehicle access are routinely being denied by car manufacturers.”

Challenges and Concerns

Automakers do not oppose legislation that requires them to turn off location tracking for abusers, said Alliance for Automotive Innovation lobbyist John Moffatt at a committee hearing earlier this month, but lawmakers need to combine proposed laws.

Unlike SB 1394, the Assembly bill would allow people who don’t own the car to end remote access and require severance of location tracking immediately inside the car or within one day when that’s considered technically infeasible. The initial version of the bill required automakers to cut the connection within two days, but privacy committee staff urged amendments to strengthen the bill with an option to immediately sever remote access inside the car and give survivors seven days to provide an affidavit.

The Impact on Survivors

Awareness about the risks to survivors posed by connected cars is growing following a series of high-profile cases. The need for a legislative solution to this problem became clear last summer, said Adam Dodge, CEO of the nonprofit Ending Tech-Enabled Abuse, after survivors and shelter leaders expressed concern that internet-connected cars can lead abusers to shelters at confidential locations, compromising the safety of staff and survivors.

Stephanie Davidson, managing attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, said she’s encountered multiple shelters with a policy that survivors can no longer park their vehicle there and said connected cars can complicate admission.

A vehicle can be essential for a domestic violence survivor when leaving, the most dangerous time for people in an abusive relationship. Multiple survivors told CalMatters that vehicle access is also essential to finding a job and gaining long-term financial independence after they leave.

Conclusion

In addition to legislative proposals, the enforcement division of the California Privacy Protection Agency launched an investigation in auto manufacturers last summer, and Federal Communications Commission Chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel introduced rules for car manufacturers last month aimed at prevention of domestic abuse.

Passing laws in California to protect domestic violence survivors from tech-enabled violence seems more realistic than proposing federal legislation. The proposed bills aim to provide survivors with control over their own personal data and ensure their safety.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDGs that are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The specific targets under the identified SDGs are:

• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, potential indicators that can be considered include:

• Number of domestic violence survivors who have their vehicle location tracking turned off after obtaining a restraining order (related to SDG 5.2)
• Privacy and security grades of internet-connected cars as assessed by organizations or institutions (related to SDG 9.4)
• Number of reported cases of tech-enabled violence against domestic violence survivors (related to SDG 16.1)

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: calmatters.org

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