The FBI says driverless vehicles could be used as “lethal weapons” even as the “Do No Evil” is crowd pushing hard for driverless trucks, since they will eliminate pesky human drivers and assure our Glorious Future. Driverless truck fleets of course will report home constantly, have crucial software driving the trucks, and thus are flashing a big “Welcome Evildoers” sign. Jack into the truck fleet grid, seize control of the trucks, and nasty consequences will surely be forthcoming. Welcome to our dystopian cyberpunk near future.
The report notes that “bad actors will be able to conduct tasks that require use of both hands or taking one’s eyes off the road which would be impossible today.”
One nightmare scenario could be suspects shooting at pursuers from getaway cars that are driving themselves.
Criminals might override safety features to ignore traffic lights and speed limits, or that terrorists might program explosive-packed cars to become self-driving bombs.
The FBI is not being paranoid. The possibility of driverless vehicles being jacked remotely is a very real threat.