The police back down: initially no ban on Tesla cars

Created: 06/23/2022Updated: 06/23/2022 14:52

A sign reading 'Police' hangs at a police headquarters.

© Roland Weihrauch/dpa/Symbolbild

A car used to have an engine, wheels and seats, that's pretty much it.

Not only does a computer work in modern cars, they are also equipped with many discreet cameras that film the surroundings.

This poses new challenges for security authorities and data protection officers.

Berlin - An initially pronounced ban on Tesla cars because of their many cameras on certain properties of the Berlin police caused a stir and irritation.

On Wednesday, the police sent out an internal circular from the LKA security department ordering the “ban” for the areas of the police headquarters and the State Criminal Police Office (LKA).

Police feared a security and privacy issue because the Tesla's vehicle cameras were constantly filming their surroundings.

The newspaper "BZ" reported on this, and the police confirmed the letter.

The police rowed back on Thursday - press spokesman Thilo Cablitz explained that a regulation was currently being planned for all properties involving cars with cameras and computer systems.

However, the circular with the heading "Ban" was only sent "in advance" and is not yet effective, but "only serves to raise awareness".

There is currently no general entry ban for certain vehicles.

However, there is still a general ban on audio and video recordings in all police security areas.

Everyone is responsible for compliance, which also applies to car cameras.

This could record police officers, police vehicles, the security of police premises or other people on the premises.

The videos are "permanently stored" on servers at Tesla's European headquarters in the Netherlands, according to police.

How film recordings are processed has not been clarified.

Tesla decides whether data could be released.

According to the circular, the police noticed the problem in January 2022, due to a report on the ZDF television station.

In August 2021, the magazine "Frontal" presented in a longer article what Tesla cars film and store - and what data can be released.

Accordingly, the Berlin public prosecutor's office had received films from Tesla that showed accidents.

But she also got footage of a trip on the Autobahn that didn't result in an accident, but the footage was still stored on the servers and could be called up.

Modern cars have multiple cameras to help with parking, for example.

In Teslas, eight cameras provide 360-degree surveillance of the car's surroundings.

The systems are used for driver assistance and semi-autonomous driving.

But they also function as so-called dashcams, which are constantly filming in order to be able to follow the process after an accident, for example.

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In addition, since 2019 Tesla has offered a "sentry mode" that owners have to consciously switch on in order for it to be active.

Even with a parked car, the cameras then constantly capture the surroundings and record the activities as soon as a proximity alarm is triggered.

The mode is intended to protect against vandalism and theft, or at least to deter potential perpetrators.

Privacy advocates are of the opinion that the "sentry mode" violates European law.

In October 2020, for example, the "Network Data Protection Experts" came to the conclusion in a report that Tesla vehicles "should not be permitted on European roads".

The authority responsible for Tesla in the Netherlands has not yet taken action against the "guard mode".

Other states are also dealing with the problem.

From Brandenburg it was said that the topic was known.

"The tests on the future handling of such systems installed in motor vehicles, which are also independent of the vehicle type, are ongoing at the police headquarters."

The Berlin police union (GdP) emphasized: “It is good that such an incorrect letter is corrected immediately.

Today's technical possibilities are very far-reaching and make it necessary to constantly optimize security measures on properties." dpa