Privacy

The Promise and Peril of Facial-Recognition Technology

December 22, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2011, John H. Gass received a disconcerting message from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles: His license had been revoked, and he had to refrain from driving immediately. </span></p>

The Billion-Dollar Robot Question — How Can We Make Sure They’re Safe?

December 18, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Ready or not, the robots are coming. There will be cars driving themselves, with no steering wheel for us to grab. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/11/30/amazon-has-a-new-drone-delivery-video-here-are-8-details-worth-noting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delivery drones</a> will maneuver around patio furniture and vegetable gardens to drop packages in backyards.

Revealed: How Google Enlisted Members Of US Congress It Bankrolled To Fight $6 Billion EU Antitrust Case

December 17, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>US tech firm has stepped up lobbying efforts with $3.5m charm offensive to persuade EU to drop punitive action over alleged abuse of monopoly position</b></p>

California DMV Proposes Ban On ‘Driverless’ Cars

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google 'gravely disappointed,' says rules would hold back progress</b></p> <p>SAN FRANCISCO -- California regulators, calling for caution on self-driving cars, today proposed rules that would sharply restrict their use on the state’s roads -- and place an outright ban on “driverless” cars that travel with no humans onboard.</p>

California’s Onerous New Rules On Autonomous Vehicles

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Harsher new rules of the road are proposed as Ford and Kia announce more self-driving vehicle plans</b></p> <p>Ford and Kia are the latest automakers announcing moves to further their development of autonomous or self-driving vehicles as California announces draft rules that mandate drivers be alert and ready to take the wheel of self-driving cars on public roads.</p>

Self-Driving Cars Will Still Need A Human Driver, Say DMV Draft Rules

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Coming <a href="http://sfist.com/2015/11/16/google_discovers_dmv_is_slow_compan.php">nearly a year after</a> its January 1st, 2014 deadline, the California Department of Motor Vehicle today released those <a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/autonomous/auto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">draft rules</a> governing the use and operation of self-driving cars on California roadways.

DMV Wants Driverless Cars To Have Licensed Drivers

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Whoa, Nelly, the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/search/?action=search&channel=bayarea&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22California+Department+of+Motor+Vehicles%22">California Department of Motor Vehicles</a> told self-driving car developers Wednesday. It’s not yet time to dispense with licensed drivers and unleash driverless cars on public roads, the agency said.</p>

Google Said To Make Driverless Car Project An Alphabet Company

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>On the same day as the state of California released its draft regulations for self-driving cars, reports have surfaced that Google Alphabet plans to launch a business to provide passenger rides in autonomous vehicles next year. While California law doesn't currently allow general use of self-driving cars on public roads, Google might be able to offer such a service on private properties and college campuses.</p>

California DMV Bursts Google And Self-Driving Cars’ Bubble

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>On the heels of news about Google possibly taking on Uber with a fleet of self-driving cars, and <a href="http://www.siliconbeat.com/2015/12/15/ford_joins_ranks_of_self_driving_car_testers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ford joining self-driving testers</a> on California roads, and <a href="http://www.siliconbeat.com/2015/12/16/quoted-guess-else-working-self-driving-car/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the iPhone hacker working on a self-driving car</a> on his own instead of with Tesla, the DMV’s new draft rules say self-driving cars must — of all things — have a driver behind the wheel.</p

California: Self-Driving Cars Must Have Driver Behind Wheel

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span class="dateline">LOS ANGELES -- </span>California unveiled precedent-setting draft rules Wednesday that would slow the public's access to self-driving cars of the future until regulators are confident the technology is safe.</p> <div class="clearfix" id="story-target"> <div id="content-body-16194260-50054185"> <p>That cautious approach requires that the cars have a steering wheel, and a licensed driver must be ready to take over if the machine fails.</p>

California Opens Road To Public Use Of Autonomous Cars

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Manufacturers could start leasing autonomous cars to the public</b></p> <section class="page"> <p><span itemprop="articleBody text">California has published the world's first regulations dealing with the routine use of autonomous cars on city streets -- a big step toward the day when computers, not humans, are in charge of cars.</span></p>

California Proposes Rules for Autonomous Cars

December 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California on Wednesday unveiled proposed regulations for autonomous cars, a long-awaited step for car companies seeking guidance before eventually selling them to consumers.</p> <p>The proposed rules hold motorists responsible for obeying traffic laws, regardless of whether they are controlling a car's movements. Deciding how much to hold computers responsible for accidents and other missteps has been at the center of burgeoning debates over how to regulate driverless cars.</p>