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Electric automaker Tesla has started using cabin cameras in some of its vehicles to spy on its own drivers in an effort to ensure that drivers are paying attention to the road when using the company’s Autopilot technology.
Article by Franz Walker from Natural News.
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Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y vehicles already featured driver-facing cameras. But according to the company’s owners manuals, these were not used in driver monitoring. Instead, Tesla’s systems would require drivers to “check in” by touching the steering wheel when using driver assistance modes.
Now, the company is telling drivers that their cabin cameras have been switched on in new vehicles that lack radar sensors.
Camera activation comes in response to autopilot accidents
The changes come as the safety of Tesla’s vehicles and its driver assistance modes come under scrutiny both in the U.S. and abroad. In the U.S. alone, the company is facing dozens of federal probes into the underlying causes of crashes involving Tesla vehicles, some of which may have involved Autopilot.
The company sells is driver assistance systems under the brand names Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD), the latter an optional $10,000 upgrade. In addition, the company offers some drivers who paid for the latter an option to try in-development driver assistance features in its FSD Beta program, turning them into beta testers.
Now Tesla’s owners manuals warn drivers that, despite their names, use these driver assistance systems still requires “active supervision.” But owners have repeatedly demonstrated over-confidence in these systems, sharing anecdotes and videos of driving without their hands on the wheel, driving while asleep at the wheel or even driving while sitting in the back or passenger seat of their vehicle.
This overconfidence in these systems has since been implicated in a number of data crashes.
One recent incident in Houston saw two people killed after a Tesla Model S crashed into a tree and subsequently burst into flames. Preliminary investigation of the crash showed that neither of the occupants of the vehicle was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle at the time of the crash. (Related: Two killed as Tesla car with no one in driver’s seat crashes in Texas.)
In response to incidents like these, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called on Tesla to stop beta testing its technologies on public roads. More importantly, it’s called on the company to add more robust driver monitoring to its vehicles.
It is unclear, however, if Tesla’s moves to actively use cabin cameras in cars that without radar is a response to the NTSB’s standards or other existing safety standards.
Tesla’s camera’s raise privacy, surveillance issues
Even as Tesla’s move to use in-car cameras in tandem with its driver assistance modes can make the latter safer, it also raises questions about safety and privacy of the vehicle’s occupants.
Last year, a hack of Tesla’s in-car cameras revealed just how much information can be collected about a car’s driver.
When Tesla first activated the interior cameras on their vehicles for the first time last year, it stated that the data was being collected for research purposes only and was not about specific drivers.
But according to the hacker, known only as “green,” Tesla’s cameras are tracking a total of 13 driver-related events, including if their eyes were closed, if they were using their phones, if they were looking at the road and more.
Beyond this, there’s also the concern that hackers could gain access to the cameras in Tesla vehicles and use them for their own ends. In 2019, a security researcher demonstrated how the cameras in Tesla vehicles could be taken over through the use of a small computer plugged into the vehicle.
Using what he called the “Surveillance Detection Scout,” Truman Kain was able to turn a Tesla into an “AI-powered surveillance station.” This allowed the car to use both its internal and external cameras to identify and track license plates and even people’s faces.
“I’d be able to see everyone across the U.S., thousands of cars on this Surveillance Scout network,” Kain said. “So I think there’s a real ethical issue there.”
So far, the only limitation of the technology is that it requires physical access to a vehicle. But with Tesla vehicles having the capability to receive over-the-air software updates, it’s not hard to imagine hackers, or even Tesla themselves, enabling this kind of surveillance over the internet.
Follow RoboCars.news for more on the issues with Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self Driving.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
See all the latest videos and articles patriots need to watch and read at Discern.tv.
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- Concerned about your life’s savings as the multiple challenges decimate retirement accounts? You’re not alone. Find out how Genesis Precious Metals can help you secure your wealth with a proper self-directed IRA backed by physical precious metals.