cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/tech/p/1247209/all-cars-sold-in-the-eu-now-require-a-camera-aimed-at-your-face-its-still-not-clear-wher
Starting July 7, 2026, every new car sold in the European Union must include a driver monitoring camera aimed at your face. Glance at your phone, your kids in the back seat, or the radio for too long, and the car will flash a warning light and sound an alert.
Automakers have known this was coming for years. What they, and EU regulators, have never spelled out is what happens to that footage after the alert goes off.
While the intention behind the new system is difficult to dispute, its implementation has raised several concerns. Early real-world testing suggests the distraction warnings can be overly sensitive and potentially distracting.
Some states are trying to ban older cars right now. I know it is all over, but this is one place Blue states are torquing me off, because they seem to be the ones pushing some of this crap.
I lean left, but I have similar frustrations. There’s an authoritarian wing to both parties who think they can make rules for everyone else, but won’t subject themselves to the same rules. Will the data be collected from these politicians car cams the same way they want to spy on you and me? This is clearly about data and power and our leaders have shown time and time again that they’ll make moves to enrich themselves and then wrap the approval in something like climate change, save the kids, or some other cause that it barely touches on. I need my leaders to lead by example and live openly and honestly in a way most people don’t.
The politicians are the ones the cameras should always be pointed at.