US EPA is afraid of DMCA, VW scandal

[thorvenger]

Opinion: The EPA shot itself in the foot by opposing rules that could've exposed VW | The Verge

Back in 2012, independent researchers Dr. Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek discovered that certain Ford and Toyota models were vulnerable to hacking. They were able to inject messages via the car’s CAN Bus network, allowing them to meddle with the brakes, the speedometer, the locks, the horn, and even the steering. Then, this year, Miller and Valasek remotely hacked a Jeep, taking control of the car and disabling it while the car was on the highway.

... independent researchers face the risk of up to five years in jail and $500,000 in fines under the DMCA — simply for investigating the innards of a car. At the same time, there are more lines of code in a car than in a jet plane.